The history of gray wolves in the United States is complex, contentious and bloody. It is a story that is wrought with death and politics; it is also a story of science, passion and success.
Wolves have been brought back from the brink of extinction in the lower 48 states with the cooperation of many groups and individuals. Less than 20 years after their 1995 reintroduction to Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, wolves again are facing a precarious future with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's expected proposal to end endangered species protection for gray wolves.
If we have learned anything since wolves return to the landscape, it is that ecosystems are healthier when apex predators are present. This trophic cascade effect is perfectly illustrated in Colorado's own Rocky Mountain National Park. Lacking predators, the elk population has burgeoned, which has had a detrimental effect on the vegetation, watersheds and the multitude of species that depend on willows and aspens for survival. The park's elk and vegetation plan now relies on sharpshooters and fencing to protect the landscape.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's wolf delisting would greatly decrease the chance of wolves migrating to Colorado and establishing a viable population. It would begin the unraveling of one of the greatest conservation victories the Endangered Species Act has seen. I urge Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to be a leader who will stand up to political pressures and represent the fundamental premise of Democracy by protecting wolves.