Do Wolves Matter Essay

Wolves Matter

There are many different types of relationships in nature. Some are symbiotic, some are parasitic, some competitive, and still others are predacious. Each type of relationship has its own importance for nature and ecosystems to maintain a sense of homeostasis. Wolves are an extremely important predacious and symbiotic player in their ecosystems. Besides promoting healthier herds, wolves help balance competitive relationships between other species, and even help control the populations of other predatory species. Wolves help promote healthy herds in a couple of different ways. When they hunt, they generally go after the young, old, weak or sick animals. This helps pick out the animals that aren’t strong enough to survive or will slow the herd down. It also ensures the strongest and fastest animals are the ones that reproduce. This weeding out and population control is also good in other aspects. As John Vucetich wrote in a letter to the US Senate, “Overabundant deer are detrimental to human safety (vehicle collisions), private property, agriculture
Deer, elk, moose, caribou, and other large prey animals that weren’t hunted by coyotes and other, smaller predators, are seeking food in more sheltered areas instead of continuously grazing in easy to reach, open meadows, or even agricultural crops. With grasses not being over-grazed, small rodent populations increase, which provides food for raptors, coyotes, foxes, and weasels. These other species are able to thrive with the increased availability of food. Wolves also directly provide shelter and food for other species. When wolves move dens, the excavated den is left for other animals to be able to use for hibernation, parturition and basic living. When they hunt, they catch their prey and eat their fill of the carcass. The carcass is left behind after feeding, and becomes food for scavengers and other