National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler Podcast | Yellowstone Wolves at 30

Jan 12, 2025

Eric Clewis, the Northern Rockies senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife, dives deep into the transformative reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. He discusses the wolves' ecological impact over the last 30 years, emphasizing their role in managing prey populations and the intricate balance of the ecosystem. Clewis also addresses the ongoing controversies and political hurdles in wolf management, showcasing the economic benefits of wolf-watching tourism and the challenges facing conservation efforts amid shifting policies.

43:11

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Eric Clewis

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Quick takeaways

The successful reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in 1995 has significantly benefited the ecosystem and local economy, generating $83 million annually from tourism.

Ongoing tensions between wolf management practices and local ranchers highlight the need for collaborative strategies to balance ecological conservation with agricultural interests.

Deep dives

Reintroduction of Wolves in Yellowstone

The successful reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 marked a significant turning point for the ecosystem, as the wolf population has since grown to around 9 to 11 packs comprising approximately 120 individuals. This effort addressed a population deficit that had left the park void of wolves for almost three decades prior. The fluctuating numbers of wolf packs have been influenced by various factors, including disease and hunting pressures from adjacent regions; however, they generally remain within the estimated carrying capacity of the park. The sustained presence of wolves has also brought economic benefits to nearby communities, generating around $83 million annually from tourists and wolf-watching activities.

Intro

3min

Wolves of Yellowstone: Ecosystem Dynamics

15min

Controversies and Conservation: The Wolf Debate

17min

Political Challenges for Endangered Species Management

2min

Wildlife Conservation and Wolf Spotting in Yellowstone

2min

Navigating Wolf Reintroduction Challenges in the Rockies

2min

Celebrating the Wolves of Yellowstone and Their Ecosystem Impact

2min

There are sounds that wake you up out of a deep sleep, only to be dismissed as you fall back to sleep. And then there are sounds that rivet you, make you sit bolt upright.

That was the type of sound that woke us while we were deep in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. Sunrise hadn’t yet come, yet we were wide awake, listening to one of the most mesmerizing sounds you can encounter in the wilds: The melodious rising and falling howl of a wolf.

It was late summer in 2008 when two friends and I were lucky enough to catch that howling. Had it been 20 years earlier, there would have been an audible hole in the park sky because there were no wolves in Yellowstone in 1988.

It was an effort launched early in the 1990s that returned the predators to the park in January 12, 1995 – 30 years ago – when 14 wolves trapped in Canada were brought into Yellowstone to kick off an audacious effort to see healthy wolf packs loping through the park.

How have they done? To find out, our guest today is Eric Clewis, the Northern Rockies senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife.

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