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.
