WINTER PROGRAM SPONSERED by THE FRIENDS OF THE GREEN FREE LIBRARY

The program "Reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone National Park", by Ray Rathmell was presented Thursday January 22, 2009 at the Gmeiner Culture Center in Wellsboro, PA. Mr. Rathmell is a professional photographer and retired science teacher who has been a volunteer of the Wolf Restoration Project for five years. His slide program examines "The Effect of the Return of the Wolf on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

This program was sponsored by the Friends of the Green Free Library. It was free and open to the public of all ages. Check back for additional information on programs sponsored by the Friends of The Green Free Library.

Note: The reintroduction of the American gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park, and other locations of the US began in 1995. The first wolves were considered "experimental, non-essential" populations as per article 10 (j) of the Endangered Species Act. This classification gave the government greater leeway in dealing with problem wolves. This was in response to a compromise made with concerned local ranchers.

Efforts to begin the reintroduction of the gray wolf actually began in 1966. The last indigenous gray wolves in the area were killed off in 1926.The loss of the wolf and its part in the Eco-system led to an overpopulous of elk and other large prey animals as well as damage to new growth vegetation. Overgrazing of the out of control elk population caused the crash of deciduous woody species like the upland aspen and riparian cottonwood.This affected the habitat of several other species. The coyote population increased drastically but they could not control the growing populations of elk, deer and other animals. Their large numbers did however lead to a decline in the numbers of red fox in the area.

When studies supported the need for reintroduction of the gray wolf into the Eco-system, three areas were chosen including: the Greater Yellowstone Area, an area in Idaho, and one in Montana. The Montana recovery zone was eliminated from the plan after it was discovered that a small, but breeding wolf population had already moved into the northwestern part of the state on their own accord.