Wolves are one of the most important keystone species in North America. They’re essential to maintaining the health and natural balance of the ecosystems they inhabit. By the early 1900s, humans almost entirely wiped them out in the lower 48 states – but thanks to the Endangered Species Act and non-stop conservation efforts, wolves have been slowly reintroduced to the places they used to call home.
Here’s a preview of just one of the areas where wolves are making a comeback, and the threats Defenders sees to their recovery:
In the Pacific Northwest, wolves have been returning to Washington in Oregon in encouraging numbers. But even so, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued several lethal removal orders on wolves each year, threatening the progress we’ve seen in reintroduction efforts and the use of non-lethal deterrents…
As we take this week to reflect on the role wolves play in our ecosystems and their long journey toward recovery, we hope you’ll join us to become even more wolf-aware!
