Wolves, Wild, Again :: Animals Wolves Nature Essays

Wolves, Wild, Again For my last web paper, I thought I'd return to one of my childhood obsessions - wolves. Ever since seeing a cartoon rendition of the story "Mowgli's Brothers" from The Jungle Book (the real thing, not the horrible Disney "interpretations" of it) I fell in love with the idea of wolf-hood. Wolves were once an essential part of our "American culture" and although we drove them away and killed them off in our own country long ago, their importance in the American mind has not decreased. I remembered hearing about their "reintroduction" to America several years ago, but I was younger then and didn't remember or understand much of what actually happened. And with the start of middle school, I was much too preoccupied with homework and cliques and all the other things that made middle school a living hell to worry much about the fate of my canine heroes. However, in thinking about what I was interested in doing for my last web report of the semester, I began to wonder what had happened with the wolf reintroduction. So I resolved to find out. Here are the basics:In 1995 and 1996, wild timber wolves from Canada were released into Yellowstone Park and Central Idaho. Later, Mexican gray wolves were released into Arizona. The timber wolves came from Alberta and British Columbia (1), some of the last places where wild wolves still live. In January 1995, fourteen wolves from separate packs were trapped, taken to Yellowstone, and put into "acclimation pens".(3). The "acclimation pen" system worked this way: a dominant male and dominant female were placed together with younger subordinate wolves, allowing them time to figure out their new pack structure.(3). This is extremely important because wolves' pack structure is the key to their entire way of life. Given the time to get to know each other and establish a system of dominance amongst each other, the wolves are more likely to form a cohesive "family," and do well in their new environment. In March, the family groups w ere released together into the park. They were: the "Crystal Creek" pack, the "Rose Creek" pack, and the "Soda Butte" pack.(3). This is known as the "soft release" method. In Idaho, the "hard release" method was used, with young adult wolves being released immediately, without acclimation pens or any such matters. According to Wolf Recovery Coordinator Ed Bangs: "Most wildlife reintroductions are hard releases. Wolves, Wild, Again :: Animals Wolves Nature Essays Wolves, Wild, Again For my last web paper, I thought I'd return to one of my childhood obsessions - wolves. Ever since seeing a cartoon rendition of the story "Mowgli's Brothers" from The Jungle Book (the real thing, not the horrible Disney "interpretations" of it) I fell in love with the idea of wolf-hood. Wolves were once an essential part of our "American culture" and although we drove them away and killed them off in our own country long ago, their importance in the American mind has not decreased. I remembered hearing about their "reintroduction" to America several years ago, but I was younger then and didn't remember or understand much of what actually happened. And with the start of middle school, I was much too preoccupied with homework and cliques and all the other things that made middle school a living hell to worry much about the fate of my canine heroes. However, in thinking about what I was interested in doing for my last web report of the semester, I began to wonder what had happened with the wolf reintroduction. So I resolved to find out. Here are the basics:In 1995 and 1996, wild timber wolves from Canada were released into Yellowstone Park and Central Idaho. Later, Mexican gray wolves were released into Arizona. The timber wolves came from Alberta and British Columbia (1), some of the last places where wild wolves still live. In January 1995, fourteen wolves from separate packs were trapped, taken to Yellowstone, and put into "acclimation pens".(3). The "acclimation pen" system worked this way: a dominant male and dominant female were placed together with younger subordinate wolves, allowing them time to figure out their new pack structure.(3). This is extremely important because wolves' pack structure is the key to their entire way of life. Given the time to get to know each other and establish a system of dominance amongst each other, the wolves are more likely to form a cohesive "family," and do well in their new environment. In March, the family groups w ere released together into the park. They were: the "Crystal Creek" pack, the "Rose Creek" pack, and the "Soda Butte" pack.(3). This is known as the "soft release" method. In Idaho, the "hard release" method was used, with young adult wolves being released immediately, without acclimation pens or any such matters. According to Wolf Recovery Coordinator Ed Bangs: "Most wildlife reintroductions are hard releases.