Wolves Rebound in Yellowstone

The demise and rebirth of the grey wolves in Yellowstone National Park began in 1926 when the original wolves were completely eliminated.    

Once the wolves were gone the elk began to take over,  the conditions of Yellowstone began to decline rapidly.  The elk multiplied, and the plants and trees were overburdened with over grazing. The woodlands were literally munched into oblivion, and the destruction of the landscape affected the remaining species of animals in the park

With the rapid increase in the number of elk, the condition of the land eroded and plant life deteriorated.. Without wolves, the population of coyotes increased dramatically, which led to a decline in the number of pronghorn antelope. The dwindling vegitation included willow trees, which affected the number of beavers in the park, and without the work of the beavers, an entire ecosystem was altered. 

Finally in  January 1995, after years of debate, fourteen wolves were captured in western Alberta, Canada and relocated to Yellowstone into three packs in the Lamar Valley in the northeast area of the park.  

The chart at right shows the success of the relocation and the expansion of the wolf packs into new areas.  


Today, there are more than 300 grey wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park.