Ep 5 - The Return of the Wolves - Michelle Harris & Amaroq Weiss
Jan 4, 2024
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Michelle Harris, an ecological consultant, and Amaroq Weiss, a conservation biologist, discuss the return of wolves in Tulare County, CA. Topics discussed include spotting a gray wolf, restoring giant sequoias, climate change effects, the impact of wolves on the environment and tourism, legislation enacted to protect wolves, and their future.
The return of wolves in Tulare County, CA has sparked mixed reactions, with excitement and concerns about their impact on livestock and wildlife populations.
Scientific data shows that wolves play a crucial role in maintaining healthier deer and elk populations by targeting the old and weak individuals, while livestock losses to wolves are minimal.
Efforts to promote coexistence with wolves include using non-lethal methods, implementing good animal husbandry practices, and fostering education and cooperation with ranchers and the public.
Deep dives
History and Return of Wolves in California
Wolves were once present in California but were eradicated due to fear and hunting. Since the 1970s, the population of wolves has started to recover in the Northern Rockies and has slowly made its way to the West Coast. Currently, there are about 35 known wolf packs in California, primarily in the northeastern part of the state. The return of wolves has sparked mixed reactions, with some people excited while others have concerns about their impact on livestock and wildlife populations.
Impact of Wolves on Ecosystem and Livestock
There are misconceptions regarding the impact of wolves on wild ungulates and livestock. Scientific data shows that wolves play a crucial role in maintaining healthier deer and elk populations by targeting the old and weak individuals. Livestock losses to wolves are minimal, accounting for less than 0.01% of overall livestock deaths. Proactive strategies, such as carcass removal, range riders, and behavioral deterrents, have proven effective in reducing conflicts between wolves and livestock. Killing wolves can disrupt pack dynamics and potentially lead to more conflicts.
Efforts to Protect and Coexist with Wolves
Various organizations and agencies are working to promote coexistence with wolves by providing resources and tools to mitigate conflicts. These include using non-lethal methods, implementing good animal husbandry practices, and fostering education and cooperation with ranchers and the public. Non-lethal strategies, when implemented proactively, have been more effective in preventing conflicts and preserving the social structure and behavior of wolf packs. The focus is on promoting long-term sustainability for both wolves and livestock ranching businesses.
The Ecological Role of Wolves in Sequoia National Forest
Wolves play an important role in the ecosystem of Sequoia National Forest and have the potential to thrive there. The forest provides prime habitat conditions for wolves, with abundant meadows, streams, and a healthy population of mule deer. Wolves' adaptability and resilience make them vital for maintaining balance in the ecosystem. Their presence leads to stronger herds of elk and deer, healthier vegetation, and benefits for other wildlife such as birds, beavers, and fish. Wolves also help contain diseases by selecting the most vulnerable prey, and they provide food for other species through scavenging. The restoration of wolf populations has not only ecological benefits but also economic advantages, as visitors to national parks who come to see wolves contribute millions of dollars to local economies through tourism.
The Challenges of Protecting Wolves and Ensuring their Recovery
Wolves face ongoing threats due to political pressures, including from the livestock and sport hunting industries. Despite efforts to restore wolf populations, they account for only 1% of their former numbers and live in a fraction of their former range. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has faced challenges in maintaining federal protections for wolves. States that have taken over management often implement aggressive recreational trophy hunting and trapping policies. Public support for wolves is growing, but policies and regulations have not caught up to this sentiment. Continued advocacy and protection efforts are necessary to preserve wolves and their vital ecological role in the face of these ongoing threats.
In this episode, Rupande speaks with Michelle Harris from Colibri Ecological Consulting and Amaroq Weiss from the Center for Biological Diversity about the return of wolves in Tulare County, CA. Michelle and her colleague, Samantha Winiecki-Love, first spotted a gray wolf in Sequoia National Forest in August 2023. Michelle talks about her experience spotting the wolf and her work in Sequoia National Forest restoring the giant sequoias and how climate change is affecting them and the entire ecosystem.
Amaroq Weiss is a Senior Wolf Advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. In this episode, she sheds light on what it means to have wolves return, the kind of impact they will have on the environment, tourism dollars and the potential threats their existence may face. She talks about the history of wolves. legislation enacted to protect them and their future.
Resources Michelle Recommended:
Save The Redwoods League Website: savetheredwoods.org
Local wildlife chapters/Audubon society/Local nature centers/outdoor groups
King Sequoia by William Tweed
Resources Amaroq Recommended:
Center for Biological Diversity: biologicaldiversity.org
Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez
Voyageurs Wolf Project
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