Maria Kiefer
Period 6
9-25-14
Wolves and Their Environment
Throughout human history, wolves have been portrayed negatively. In stories they are
antagonists. A wolf eats Red Riding Hoods grandmother, they assist the White Witch in the
Chronicles of Narnia, and are friends of Vampires in many tales. Our fear of wolves was once so
great that we even burned them at stake. With new knowledge, we no longer fear wolves like we
used to. We have actually found them beneficial. Now with Sci entific research, we know that
wolves have a positive effect on the ecosystem that they li ve in
Wolves control the ungulate (hoofed animal) population. They primarily eat animals like
caribou moose, or and prevent the effects of ungulate crowdin . If a ea has too many
hoofed animals, I WI a ec pan s, animals, and the hoo e animals themselve There will be
less water, food, and space to t rna s. Diseases wi sprea easier because of
more hosts, and the population' of will lower because of the lack of resources. If
there are no wolves the ecosystem will be damaged.
Wolves help the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Ungulates eat plants preventing them from
reaching maturity. This is especially true for trees and bushes. Wolves lower the herbivore
population allowing more plants to grow. Take Yellowstone for example; before any wolves were
introduced there were few trees. When wolves were brought to Yellowstone the tree n
If you go there
-;;!ii there were no wolves there would be a smaller biodiversity.
Wolves also prevent the spread of disease. They tend to leave healthy prey alone and
instead attack prey that is sick or injured . This prevents other animals from catching the same
disease that the prey ha Wolves also eat carrion and this prevents diseases that are spread by
rotting meat. If there were no wolves then there would be more sick animals.
Even though we have portrayed them as evil animals, in these three ways wolves help
the environment that they live in.
