The Colorado Wolf Reintroduction

The Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Program is one of the most ambitious and controversial wildlife management projects in recent history and will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the future of wolf conservation in the U.S. In November 2020, the citizens of Colorado voted on proposition 114 to restore grey wolves to the western slope of … Read more

How Wolves Hunt Elk

Wolves have been hunting elk for thousands of years. They’ve evolved to become the perfect hunter. But most people don’t think about the fact that the elk have been running away from wolves for just as long and have gotten just as good at that. In fact, wolves are actually successful in catching their prey … Read more

How Wolves Indirectly Shape Elk Behavior and the Landscape

The impact of wolves on elk populations goes beyond direct predation. Wolves don’t just hunt elk. They change their behavior, influencing everything from grazing patterns to birthing rates, all of which have far-reaching effects on the ecosystem around them. Changes in Behavior The presence of wolves on the landscape affects when and where elk choose … Read more

Wolves Directly Impact the Health of Elk Herds

Wolves play a essential role in maintaining healthy elk populations and ecosystems by preying on weaker individuals, naturally balancing herd numbers, and reducing the spread of diseases like chronic wasting disease. Their presence on the landscape prevents overgrazing and supports biodiversity, showing that natural predators are essential for ungulate populations and the ecosystem as a … Read more

Federal Protection and State Management of Wolves

One of the biggest sources of conflict around wolf issues in their association with government overreach and the subsequent tension between federal and state governments. Underlying this political battle is the disconnect between federal protection and state management and the different motivations behind each. Federal Protection Wildlife protection at the federal level is by far … Read more

Wolf Recovery Projects

Unlike reintroduction projects, which involve reintroducing wolves to new areas, wolf recovery projects focus on the conservation and expansion of already existing wolf populations. These projects aim to support and strengthen natural packs, as well as support wolves that naturally migrate across borders, from one state to another or even across national boundaries. Major Recovery … Read more

Wolves and Human Nature: A Story of Fear, Control, and the Wild

Humans respond in fear; we try to control the things we don’t understand, and we often destroy the things we can’t control. That is exactly what we’ve done with the wolf. Throughout history, humans have always struggled to coexist with the world around us. We seem to have a natural instinct to exert control over … Read more

Caught in the Crossfire: Wolves and Politics

Wolves have always received a disproportionate amount of attention compared to other wildlife and have come to symbolize the wild itself. But in more recent years, they’ve also become an extremely politicized topic that is connected to much larger issues like federal overreach, government regulation, and public land use. As wolf conservation efforts trigger emotions … Read more