Originally Posted by
stilchen67
Actually to a point they are right, and I am only saying this because about a year ago I had a chance to read a report on the introduction and how it changed things and why it was done. This might be a long explanation so I apologize for that. In Yellowstone the Elk population was so very high that much of the vegetation along vast stretches of river was eaten down to nothing. Because of that banks were starting to erode and this in turn negatively affected not only native trout populations but water temperature because there was no shade over small rivers and creeks. It was in a biological report that I had read, now once elk numbers stabilized and were reduced in part because of the reintroduction of wolves there were noticeable growth along these water systems. The interesting part is that the park can only support so many wolves. What has happened is that the wolves have spread to many states where they had been extinct for years which is great. But now the elk population in Yellowstone has hit rock bottom and all the hunting guides and camps are going broke. Even noted biologists are saying that wolf numbers need to be reduced dramatically. But here is the kicker, environmental groups are fighting this and in the US you don't have to petition it in the state that it is taking place. So what the environmentalists are doing is filing suit in places like New York where people don't know any better other than wolves are cute and judges are signing injunctions against reducing the overpopulation of wolves. Unfortunately something with good intentions has spiraled out of control.