What to do about Wolves?

Since gray wolves have been listed on the ESA, their recovery has gone exceedingly well, even prompting removal from being considered “threatened” or “endangered” in certain regions of the United States. Due to the significant amount of wolf populations that have become self-sustaining throughout the U.S., the shift in recovery now has many wolf populations designated as “non-essential, experimental populations” under the ESA. Much of the focus now is on ensuring the continued conservation of wolves as top predators, while also protecting the social and economic interests of those who may be directly impacted by the increase in wolf populations (e.g. cattle ranchers).

There is ample evidence to support the delisting of the gray wolf Canis lupus from the Endangered Species Act. In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a rule in the Federal Register to delist the species in a portion of North American states. The rule reports that a healthy, distinct population segment of the gray wolf within the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) supports the revision of the gray wolf’s listing in the states that the NRM encompasses (Washington State, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho) except Wyoming (FWS 2009).

As a species, the North American gray wolf (Canis Lupus) is characterized by high mobility. The historical range of the gray wolf is the largest of any extant terrestrial mammal. The expanse of their biogeographical range also encompasses a variety of ecosystems: from dense forest to open grassland; and even as drastically from Arctic tundras to extreme deserts (Geffen et. al 2004). This broad range effectively classifies this species as habitat generalists. Albeit, even though the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has the potential to be ubiquitous in a variety of ecosystems does not mean that it is actually present in each of those ecosystems. This is because the distribution patterns of large carnivores like the gray wolf (Canis lupus) are strongly influenced by environmental discontinuity, human persecutions and other human activities (De La Ville et. al 1998). The implication of these sensitivities is that the realized niche, the range it actually occupies, is significantly smaller than its fundamental niche, the total amount of habitat it could utilize in theory. Finally, when we consider other factors such as habitat fragmentation by way of human encroachment, insurmountable topographic barriers such as mountains ranges and large bodies of water, and reluctance to disperse across these barriers, the final range that the gray wolf(Canis lupus) has to exist in is in grave danger.

The primary threat to gray wolves (Canis lupus) would be either from humans killing or trapping gray wolves, or from habitat loss. Historically these have been the downfall of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the lower 48 states, so it would make sense that these threats still remain present, especially given the relatively small population of reintroduced wolves. Back in the late 1800s as ranchers and hunters began pushing out further west, they began to encounter more and more wolves and they also started using more wolf territory as farmland. This led to wolves having less space and less available prey options which caused them to eat the livestock of the farmers. This caused a great push by farmers and hunters to eradicate the gray wolf from the western US and they were successful. Today, wolves still cause problems for farmers in the areas where they have been reintroduced and so the threat of farmers deciding to fight back against the wolves still remains, although there are now much greater legal protections for the wolves. In addition, much of the gray wolves previous habitat is being used by humans and so wolf populations will always face the threat of habitat loss. Lastly, only 66 wolves were reintroduced, meaning that genetic diversity could potentially be a concern for the longevity of the wolves. For example, if a disease were to spread between the wolf packs, it’s possible that all the wolves would be eradicated if none of those original 66 carried a gene that was resistant to the disease.

Gray Wolf (canis lupus). SN bighorn sheep. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/FC_SierraNevadaWildlifeRisk/GrayWolf.php.

The outlook for the recovery of Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) is not fully known. As the gray wolves’ reintroduction is experimental in many capacities, the monitoring and take rules are also experimental in accommodating ranchers and those who may be affected by gray wolves (Archibald). With a clear lack of agreement between those looking to reintroduce the wolves and residents of the areas, that’s where the recovery reaches many snags. With how the recovery in Yellowstone was able to bloom from 31 to over 600, we know wolves when reintroduced to their habitat can gain back in numbers, however when others are ready to take these wolves our knowledge gets much murkier. With so much back and forth between these groups including ranchers and the FWS, while wolf numbers are better they still only remain in about 10% of their historic range which can affect genetic sustainability (Center for Biological Diversity). Like so many places wolves have lost protection in recent years, the gray wolf recovery is extremely broken up region by region as the west has created protections state by state like California meanwhile in places like the midwest, states like Minnesota are having state-mandated wolf hunting seasons. The potential to gain back the wolf population and biodiversity it helps bring is clearly possible, but as these states and areas look to still hunt and take away regulations from this creature and separate it region by region the outlook becomes much different.

America’s Gray Wolves. America’s Gray Wolves: A Long Road to Recovery. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/gray_wolves/.
Archibald, C. J. (1970, January 1). Overview of the recovery of the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. Animal Law Legal Center. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-recovery-gray-wolf-under-endangered-species-act.

After hunting nearly forced the gray wolf (Canis lupus) to extinction in North America, the species is currently present within the Great Lakes, Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM), California, and the Pacific Northwest (defenders.org). Worldwide, there are approximately 200,000-250,000 individuals. Within Canada and the U.S. there are over 65,000 individuals with more than 85% found in Canadian territories. The U.S. population is between 13,400-16,900 individuals who are concentrated in Minnesota and Alaska (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently monitoring five populations of gray wolf; two of these populations have been delisted due to recovery, while the others are currently under review (Fish and Wildlife Service). 

Additional populations of the gray wolf can be found in Europe (approximately 17,00 individuals) and Asia (approximately 81,500 individuals) (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021). Gray wolf populations located within the European Union (EU) have been designated as Least Concern but are still protected under the Ben Convention, EU Habitats Directive, and fully protected in Norway (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021).

Site Citations

De La Ville, N., Cousins, S., & Bird, C. (1998). Habitat suitability analysis using logistic regression and GIS to outline potential areas for conservation of the grey wolf (Canis lupus). Innovations In GIS 5, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1201/b16831-28   

Gray Wolf. Defenders of Wildlife. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://defenders.org/wildlife/gray-wolf. 

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). SN bighorn sheep. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/FC_SierraNevadaWildlifeRisk/GrayWolf.php.   

“U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus).” 2007. US Fish and Wildlife Service. www.oregonwild.org/sites/default/files/pdf-files/Gray_Wolf_Fact_Sheet_USFWS.pdf.   

“Wolves in Oregon.” ODFW Gray Wolves, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2021. www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/index.asp. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. Final rule to identify the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolf as a distinct population segment and to revise the list of endangered and threatened wildlife. Federal Register 74:15123–15188. 

San Diego Zoo Global Library staff. (2021, March 9). Gray Wolf (canis lupus) fact sheet: Population & Conservation Status. LibGuides. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/graywolf/population-conservation. 

Species profile. ECOS. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4488.