The Gray Wolf Recovery

Gray wolves once roamed across most of North America. People hunted them because they sometimes attacked farm animals. By the mid-1900s, wolves had almost disappeared from the lower 48 states. Scientists and conservationists worked hard to bring them back.

Wolves Return to Yellowstone

In 1995, scientists brought 14 gray wolves from Canada to Yellowstone National Park. The wolves quickly settled in and started to grow in number. Something amazing happened next. With wolves hunting elk, the elk stopped eating all the young trees. Forests grew back, and rivers even changed course because tree roots held the soil in place.

Living with Wolves

Today, thousands of gray wolves live in the western United States and around the Great Lakes. Some ranchers still worry about wolves harming their animals. Scientists are working on ways for people and wolves to live together. Guard dogs, special fences, and warning lights help keep farm animals safe.

Fun Facts

• A wolf pack can travel up to 30 miles in a single day while hunting.
• Wolves howl to communicate with their pack members over long distances.
• Gray wolves can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour in short bursts.

Did You Know?

When wolves returned to Yellowstone, it helped so many other plants and animals that scientists call it a trophic cascade!