Save the Wolves - Extinction is Forever
Introduction:
The Mexican grey wolves are the most endangered wolves in North America. Ranchers, poachers, hunters, and habitat destruction, are all threatening the last remaining individuals in New Mexico and Arizona. In 1980 there were only five grey wolves still alive. Now, thanks to the organizations protecting the wolves, there numbers have increased to around 340. However, now the wolves are on the brink of extinction, and if something is not done in New Mexico and Arizona, the slaughter of these incredible creatures will continue.
The Problem:
The fact that these wolves are almost extinct is a wakeup call for us to protect these creatures. Wolves are on the top of the food chain. Without them there will be a huge gap in the ecosystem and the wolves prey will over populate destroying the plants. If we do not act on these issues, there may be major problems later on. In this situation it is not our lives that are in danger, however, there are many lives in danger and it is our fault. In some attempts to save the wolves there has been failure due to the lack of protection. For example, one of the female wolves that were released had been killed,
The endangered Mexican gray wolf released into the wilds of New Mexico last May barely had time to get to know her new surroundings. In a July press release, both federal and state wildlife officials confirmed that the wolf had been shot. (Ross, 2013)
This is not the first time this has happened; the Dutcher’s, wildlife biologists, agreed in their article “Don’t Forsake the Grey Wolf” that after the wolves are released they are immediately killed due to poaching or other terrible reasons. Another reason the grey wolves are so endangered is due to habitat destruction and more and more contact with humans. The Arizona Game and Fish Department explain that with more and more interactions with humans the more risk the wolves are put in. The Arizona Game and Fish Department say that, “It appears that mere disturbance by humans may not negatively impact wolves, but direct killing or accidental vehicle collisions can have a significant impact” They also explain that when habitat becomes scarce, there will be more human interactions with the wolves which will then lead to their demise. (Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2012) Many other sources agree with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, for example the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, they say the wolves are in a tight spot and it is our job to help protect them.
The Background:
The fates of these wolves are in our hands, the reason these animals are so endangered is due to human ignorance and poor judgment. Humans, for many years, have been killing the grey wolves because they are either poaching them, or killing them to protect their cattle. In doing so it has created a big problem. Over the years many people have worked extremely hard to bring back these endangered creatures, and so far they are succeeding. However, due to habitat destruction and poachers killing more wolves the population of wolves is going down again. The Center for Biological Diversity explains that they have been suing as well as trying to pass more laws to save the grey wolves from people as well as the government. “The Center has worked continuously to reintroduce the Mexican wolf to the wild and to provide it with protection from government and private persecution…” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The Center for Biological Diversity began their protection with a 1990 court case which led to the reintroduction of the wolves in the wild (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The Center is not the only people passing laws to protect the wolves though. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has also been enforcing laws to save the Mexican wolves. In the 1970’s and 80’s there were only five Mexican wolves left,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service… poisoned and trapped almost all Mexican wolves from the wild from 1915 until 1973; the last five survivors, captured between 1977 and 1980, were bred in captivity and their progeny reintroduced in 1998. At the beginning of 2013, 75 Mexican gray wolves and only three Mexican wolf breeding pairs remained in the wild. (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013)
The Center for Biological Diversity explains that there were only a few left and they were brought back and now that there is a stable amount of wolves they need to reintroduce them to the wild, however that is the problem. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service say that we need to help put them back into the wild.
Solutions:
A solution that may work for the loss of this precious resource is by funding the existing programs that are trying to protect the wolves. Another way we could fix this problem is by making laws as well as enforcing existing laws. We might want to also create a new organization to protect the wolves that will add additional penalties for people who harm the animals. As for the people who do not know what they can do to help, can join an “Adopt a Wolf Program”.
We are not releasing them quickly enough and there is not enough genetic diversity. In Ross’s “After a Killing” article he explains that the only way to save the wolves is by releasing more into the wild. “Sargent says that the only way to improve the situation now is to release many more wolves and to establish additional populations” (Ross, 2013). Dutcher’s agreed, however, they do believe that there needs to be more laws protecting the wolves from people who want to harm them. The Center for Biological Diversity explains that they are trying to put together lawsuits and petitions to help protect the wolves and one step is to differentiate them from grey wolves. “After a Center petition and lawsuit, in August 2010 the Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would consider protecting the Mexican gray wolf separately from other U.S. gray wolves, as an endangered subspecies or a ‘distinct population segment’” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The News Editor, the author of “Mexican Gray Wolves Gain Protection in Arizona, New Mexico” also agrees with making new laws to protect the wolves, they have passed a law that allows the wolves to pass through Arizona and New Mexico clearly.
Counter Claim:
The Mexican grey wolves should be protected. However; some people do not agree with this or do not believe this is a problem. The Earth Island Journal explains, the House and Senate legislators plan to remove the Endangered Species Act protection for the grey wolves. “House and Senate legislators added a bipartisan proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protection for grey wolves in most of the lower 48 states” (Mitra, 2013). Although they say that there might be another way to save all of their work with the wolves, “The only exception, reports the LA Times, is a small cluster of about 75 Mexican grey wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. If passed, it would mean individual states would have to manage their wolf populations” (Mitra, 2013). Other people confirm that the government doesn’t believe this to be necessary because the wolves are coming back so nicely, however, that is not the case. The wolves are still endangered; the habitat destruction is prevalent as well as the close encounters with humans.
Habitat characteristics… that are probably important for wolves include road and human density, as well as current land uses and patch size of relatively intact habitat. Studies in Wisconsin indicate that road density can be used as an index to evaluate the quality of wolf habitat. (Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2012)
This explains that the road density near the wolves has gotten greater and the wolves are in need of help and attention.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, the wolves are still on the brink of extinction and if something is not done the killings of these amazing animals will continue to go on. The problems with the wolves are that there is no land for the wolves to live on and if there is the habitat is destroyed. Another reason is because people are killing the wolves and they are not punished for their actions. The Mexican grey wolves are very important; they are the smallest of the grey wolves and need to be protected. If people do not work to save the Mexican grey wolves, extinction is forever.
References:
Arizona Game and Fish Department. (2012). Mexican Grey Wolf. AZ.Gov. Retrieved from http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/w_c/wolf/WEB_Mexican_Wolf_details.pdf
Center for Biological Diversity. (2013). Saving The Mexican Grey Wolf. Center for Biological Diversity. Retrieved from http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Mexican_gray_wolf/
Dutcher, J., Dutcher, J., & Dutcher, G. (2013). Don’t Forsake the Grey Wolf. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/opinion/dont-forsake-the-gray-wolf.html?_r=1&
Mitra, M. (2013). Feds Plan to End Endangered Species Protection for Grey Wolves Across the US. Latest News. Retrieved from http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/feds_plan_to_end_protection_for_grey_wolves_across_us/
News Editor. (2013). Mexican Gray Wolves Gain Protection in Arizona, New Mexico. Environment News Service. Retrieved from http://ens-newswire.com/2013/08/26/mexican-gray-wolves-gain-protection-in-arizona-new-mexico/
Ross, T. (2013). After a Killing: Next Steps for America’s Most Endangered Mammal. Take Part. Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/08/02/mexican-gray-wolf-shooting-new-mexico
Staff Writer. (1013). Mexican Gray Wolves struggling to make a comeback in US Southwest. The Latino Post. Retrieved from http://www.latinopost.com/articles/881/20131104/mexican-gray-wolves-struggling-to-make-a-comeback-in-us-southwest.htm
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2013). The Mexican Grey Wolf Recovery Program. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/
Introduction:
The Mexican grey wolves are the most endangered wolves in North America. Ranchers, poachers, hunters, and habitat destruction, are all threatening the last remaining individuals in New Mexico and Arizona. In 1980 there were only five grey wolves still alive. Now, thanks to the organizations protecting the wolves, there numbers have increased to around 340. However, now the wolves are on the brink of extinction, and if something is not done in New Mexico and Arizona, the slaughter of these incredible creatures will continue.
The Problem:
The fact that these wolves are almost extinct is a wakeup call for us to protect these creatures. Wolves are on the top of the food chain. Without them there will be a huge gap in the ecosystem and the wolves prey will over populate destroying the plants. If we do not act on these issues, there may be major problems later on. In this situation it is not our lives that are in danger, however, there are many lives in danger and it is our fault. In some attempts to save the wolves there has been failure due to the lack of protection. For example, one of the female wolves that were released had been killed,
The endangered Mexican gray wolf released into the wilds of New Mexico last May barely had time to get to know her new surroundings. In a July press release, both federal and state wildlife officials confirmed that the wolf had been shot. (Ross, 2013)
This is not the first time this has happened; the Dutcher’s, wildlife biologists, agreed in their article “Don’t Forsake the Grey Wolf” that after the wolves are released they are immediately killed due to poaching or other terrible reasons. Another reason the grey wolves are so endangered is due to habitat destruction and more and more contact with humans. The Arizona Game and Fish Department explain that with more and more interactions with humans the more risk the wolves are put in. The Arizona Game and Fish Department say that, “It appears that mere disturbance by humans may not negatively impact wolves, but direct killing or accidental vehicle collisions can have a significant impact” They also explain that when habitat becomes scarce, there will be more human interactions with the wolves which will then lead to their demise. (Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2012) Many other sources agree with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, for example the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, they say the wolves are in a tight spot and it is our job to help protect them.
The Background:
The fates of these wolves are in our hands, the reason these animals are so endangered is due to human ignorance and poor judgment. Humans, for many years, have been killing the grey wolves because they are either poaching them, or killing them to protect their cattle. In doing so it has created a big problem. Over the years many people have worked extremely hard to bring back these endangered creatures, and so far they are succeeding. However, due to habitat destruction and poachers killing more wolves the population of wolves is going down again. The Center for Biological Diversity explains that they have been suing as well as trying to pass more laws to save the grey wolves from people as well as the government. “The Center has worked continuously to reintroduce the Mexican wolf to the wild and to provide it with protection from government and private persecution…” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The Center for Biological Diversity began their protection with a 1990 court case which led to the reintroduction of the wolves in the wild (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The Center is not the only people passing laws to protect the wolves though. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has also been enforcing laws to save the Mexican wolves. In the 1970’s and 80’s there were only five Mexican wolves left,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service… poisoned and trapped almost all Mexican wolves from the wild from 1915 until 1973; the last five survivors, captured between 1977 and 1980, were bred in captivity and their progeny reintroduced in 1998. At the beginning of 2013, 75 Mexican gray wolves and only three Mexican wolf breeding pairs remained in the wild. (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013)
The Center for Biological Diversity explains that there were only a few left and they were brought back and now that there is a stable amount of wolves they need to reintroduce them to the wild, however that is the problem. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service say that we need to help put them back into the wild.
Solutions:
A solution that may work for the loss of this precious resource is by funding the existing programs that are trying to protect the wolves. Another way we could fix this problem is by making laws as well as enforcing existing laws. We might want to also create a new organization to protect the wolves that will add additional penalties for people who harm the animals. As for the people who do not know what they can do to help, can join an “Adopt a Wolf Program”.
We are not releasing them quickly enough and there is not enough genetic diversity. In Ross’s “After a Killing” article he explains that the only way to save the wolves is by releasing more into the wild. “Sargent says that the only way to improve the situation now is to release many more wolves and to establish additional populations” (Ross, 2013). Dutcher’s agreed, however, they do believe that there needs to be more laws protecting the wolves from people who want to harm them. The Center for Biological Diversity explains that they are trying to put together lawsuits and petitions to help protect the wolves and one step is to differentiate them from grey wolves. “After a Center petition and lawsuit, in August 2010 the Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would consider protecting the Mexican gray wolf separately from other U.S. gray wolves, as an endangered subspecies or a ‘distinct population segment’” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2013). The News Editor, the author of “Mexican Gray Wolves Gain Protection in Arizona, New Mexico” also agrees with making new laws to protect the wolves, they have passed a law that allows the wolves to pass through Arizona and New Mexico clearly.
Counter Claim:
The Mexican grey wolves should be protected. However; some people do not agree with this or do not believe this is a problem. The Earth Island Journal explains, the House and Senate legislators plan to remove the Endangered Species Act protection for the grey wolves. “House and Senate legislators added a bipartisan proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protection for grey wolves in most of the lower 48 states” (Mitra, 2013). Although they say that there might be another way to save all of their work with the wolves, “The only exception, reports the LA Times, is a small cluster of about 75 Mexican grey wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. If passed, it would mean individual states would have to manage their wolf populations” (Mitra, 2013). Other people confirm that the government doesn’t believe this to be necessary because the wolves are coming back so nicely, however, that is not the case. The wolves are still endangered; the habitat destruction is prevalent as well as the close encounters with humans.
Habitat characteristics… that are probably important for wolves include road and human density, as well as current land uses and patch size of relatively intact habitat. Studies in Wisconsin indicate that road density can be used as an index to evaluate the quality of wolf habitat. (Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2012)
This explains that the road density near the wolves has gotten greater and the wolves are in need of help and attention.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, the wolves are still on the brink of extinction and if something is not done the killings of these amazing animals will continue to go on. The problems with the wolves are that there is no land for the wolves to live on and if there is the habitat is destroyed. Another reason is because people are killing the wolves and they are not punished for their actions. The Mexican grey wolves are very important; they are the smallest of the grey wolves and need to be protected. If people do not work to save the Mexican grey wolves, extinction is forever.
References:
Arizona Game and Fish Department. (2012). Mexican Grey Wolf. AZ.Gov. Retrieved from http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/w_c/wolf/WEB_Mexican_Wolf_details.pdf
Center for Biological Diversity. (2013). Saving The Mexican Grey Wolf. Center for Biological Diversity. Retrieved from http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Mexican_gray_wolf/
Dutcher, J., Dutcher, J., & Dutcher, G. (2013). Don’t Forsake the Grey Wolf. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/opinion/dont-forsake-the-gray-wolf.html?_r=1&
Mitra, M. (2013). Feds Plan to End Endangered Species Protection for Grey Wolves Across the US. Latest News. Retrieved from http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/feds_plan_to_end_protection_for_grey_wolves_across_us/
News Editor. (2013). Mexican Gray Wolves Gain Protection in Arizona, New Mexico. Environment News Service. Retrieved from http://ens-newswire.com/2013/08/26/mexican-gray-wolves-gain-protection-in-arizona-new-mexico/
Ross, T. (2013). After a Killing: Next Steps for America’s Most Endangered Mammal. Take Part. Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/08/02/mexican-gray-wolf-shooting-new-mexico
Staff Writer. (1013). Mexican Gray Wolves struggling to make a comeback in US Southwest. The Latino Post. Retrieved from http://www.latinopost.com/articles/881/20131104/mexican-gray-wolves-struggling-to-make-a-comeback-in-us-southwest.htm
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2013). The Mexican Grey Wolf Recovery Program. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/