Wolf Sanctuary

Section 1: Describe the article you read and include a photo

In an article posted on October 16, 2018, Letting nature take its course: Wolves in Yellowstone National Park by the University of Alberta, author Mark S Boyce discusses how the reintroduction of Wolves in Yellowstone National Park has benefited the parks ecosystem. The benefits of the ecosystem aren't just observations of recent changes, there are changes that have been researched and studied for over 40 years. Some of the changes addressed are the elk population. In previous years, the elk population had been declining but the article mentions how introducing wolves increased “influence of bears on the survival of elk calves” along with bison population increasing making them more powerful. Vegetation was another aspect that had increased growth. “The recovery of willow, cottonwood, and aspen trees in different areas of the park”. These changes took place because of the reintroduction of wolves and the park finally taking control and limiting human interaction with the park such as hunters. This doesn't mean that wolves can be expected to create balances in ecosystems but it does mean that letting nature takes it course isn't a bad thing. 

(This image was taken from flickr.com and shows a wolf during the winter in Yellowstone National Park)

Section 2 :Link the information in the article with a key concept from class

This article mentioned in section 1 can be linked with the concept in class ecosystems. Specifically what it means to have a balanced ecosystem and food web. As learned from the article Wolves are at the top of the food chain also known as tertiary consumers. So when wolves were taken away from Yellowstone it created an unbalanced system causing the elk population to increase. However when they were reintroduced it made sense to see that elk population decline drastically from what it was. Wolves feed off of elk and bison. The second highest on the food chain also known as secondary consumers. Shortly under the wolves also known as secondary consumers are bears, coyotes and elk. As I learned in the article Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone posted by the website Yellowstone national park tips, author Brodie Farguhar discusses how wolves reintroduction positively changes the ecosystem. The vegetation that increased as a result of the wolves being introduced is the producer of the food chain for Yellowstone. This provides more food for primary producers and secondary consumers like the elk, rabbits, and coyotes. Which in the end benefits the wolves as those are the producers they consume.

Section 3: Add a photo to illustrate the related key concept from class. 

This image was taken from the website wikimedia commons. I chose this picture to show how big the ecosystem of Yellowstone national park is. With an ecosystem this big we can see the vast lands of vegetation. There are several, lakes, streams, and ponds to provide a water source. From this picture we can begin to understand the vast ecosystem Yellowstone has and why the park is home to over 200 water and land species. There is plenty of room to have a balanced system and for animals to prey and live.

Section 4 : Link the information from your reading with your personal life or experience outside of class. 

The reason I wrote this blog post is because I was inspired when I went to a wolf sanctuary in early November. The Sanctuary is called Wolf Hollow,  located in Ipswich Massachusetts and currently is caring for ten wolves. The sanctuary raises the wolves starting from when they are born so that they are adapted to humans and human interactions. I got to watch a presentation specifically on two of the wolves whom are brother and sister named Akela (the brother) and Qantaqa (the sister). The staff member was in the cage with the wolves and they greeted him by jumping on him and hugging him. The presenter first addressed the stereotype around the animals that they are scary and kill humans but there have only been two human deaths from wolves ever. I learned later on in the presentation that the two siblings had a third, Askulee who is a boy but he was born with eye issues. After he had surgery and was treated for his eye, when he returned to the cage with his siblings he didn't recognize them. This caused him to easily engage in fights therefore he is now in a separate cage. All three wolves were born in Montana and brought here to Massachusetts. Wolf hollow is designed to educate and expose people to these beautiful animals so that we can protect them as the North American gray wolves are endangered. The sanctuary takes care of the animals to ensure they are healthy and happy. They have a strong veterinary program in which the wolves receive vaccinations, medications (protect them from fleas), physical exams, and extra care like surgery if needed. The staff has formed close bonds with the wolves to the point the wolves recognize them and are playful with them. The wolves are fed every two-three days because wolves in the wilderness are used to eating and fasting for a few days. Since these wolves don't have prey to hunt they are fed meat, fish dropped by fishermen, dead deer dropped of by hunters, etc to maintain a stable diet. A fun fact I learned was wolves love watermelon. While we were they the wolves ate meat out of pumpkins. You could see the brother become dominant over his food. There's a pond in the enclosed area they live in which is tested to ensure no diseases or bacteria is spread. I learned all of this and so much more from just one presentation and it truly changed how I viewed wolves. They were so beautiful and majestic walking around. The best part was at the end we howled and the wolves did it back.

This was a photo I took while at the presentation. This is a picture of Qantaqa (the sister) whom is smaller than her brother.

This is a picture I took myself on the way out because I thought it was such a great quote to explain why people hesitate to help save these endangered animals and our planet.