WOLVES & WOLF DOGS
For the first time in over 100 years, wolves have returned to California. It is a critical time period for wolves because they are currently at risk of being removed from the endangered species list. They were nearly extirpated last century, but have slowly been making a recovery throughout the U.S. in several Northern states.
Humans are the primary cause of wolf fatalities. During the 1900’s people waged war against wolves because they were seen as pests. President Roosevelt sadly called for the eradication of gray wolves and their population decreased to as little as 300. Wolves were hated because people blamed them for cattle and livestock deaths. Most of the time, however, livestock perished from coyotes or human related causes. Wolves account for .01 percent of livestock deaths. These majestic creatures were completely demonized in the media by stereotypes and misconceptions, and this misleading propaganda led to their near extinction. Wolves were wiped out from almost every state because people failed to realize that they are more valuable alive than dead.
In the 1980’s when conservation laws were finally established, wolves’ numbers slightly improved, and today there are as many as 11,000 wolves in North America. However, there are still many battles to be won. Wolves are killed all the time by some people who see them as a nuisance. Due to deforestation, wolves are losing their habitats and are sometimes forced to attack livestock. Therefore, people often poison or shoot them. Sometimes dens are even gassed and pups are electrocuted alive. Many poachers/ranchers have been known to make a sport out of wolf hunting.
So why is it so important to protect the Gray Wolf? The wolf is an apex predator, meaning it is an animal at the top of the food chain with a vital role in maintaining health and balance in its surrounding ecosystem. Removing the top predator of a habitat has drastic effects on vegetation, resource availability, and fauna. There has been evidence that when wolves are present, we see an abundance of clean water, healthy vegetation, thriving oxygen levels and steady prey populations. This was proven in the case of the Yellowstone National Park, when elk ruled the forests before wolves were reintroduced. The plethora of elk caused vegetation to dwindle and increased drought seasons. Since there was nothing to keep elk populations in check, they overpopulated and contributed to a major decline in native vegetation. This in turn caused there to be more pollution in the rivers and lakes of Yellowstone, because plants filter out impurities. The lack of flora also created a problem for beavers because they need trees and shrubs to build dams, and dams are crucial in preventing droughts maintaining water flow. Dams are a welcome mat for biodiversity because they provide a perfect environment for amphibians, fish, birds, mammals, etc. Beavers keep rivers from drying up, and healthy vegetation keeps rivers from flooding. Therefore, more wolves result in more trees, more water, and bountiful flora. Apex predators like wolves reduce the effects of climate change and other threats in their ecosystems.
Since we are going through a drought right now in California, it wouldn’t hurt to replenish our forests and bring wolves back to their homes. Wolves were exterminated from every state except Minnesota and Alaska. Although they are now slowly making a comeback in Oregon and Michigan, they weren’t present in California in over 100 years, and we have clearly seen a dramatic increase in drought seasons. This increase happens to parallel the fact that our predators have died out (wolves, grizzlies wiped out at one point and mountain lions, bobcats on the decline). However, in 2011 a wolf known as OR7 became the first wolf to return to California. This wolf migrated down from Oregon looking for a mate, and recently had wolf pups. This was a milestone step for wolves and wolf conservationists. Our goal is to make it safe for wolves in California and continue to protect them in the U.S., not only for the survival of their species but also for humanity’s well-being.
Steps we are taking to help
Jaws & Paws is promoting wolf conservation through awareness, education, and connection with our ambassador animals at our sanctuary. The wolf-dogs we’ve rescued cannot return to the wild, so they live their days at our sanctuary where they’re able to be free and interact with humans only if they choose. The ones that do help people see that wolves are not scary creatures who should be exterminated, but magnificent animals who should deserve our protection.
How to help:
Legal protection for wolf populations to provide more habitat and reserves for them
Awareness through media, public service announcements, and social networking campaigns
Developing solutions to human/wolf conflict pertaining to livestock by providing people with nonlethal predator deterrents (steers them away from killing wolves)
Utilizing wolves from reserves and rescues as ambassadors to spread awareness and promote more tolerance
WOLF-DOGS
Owning wolf dogs has become a popular trend in our country. Many people think the idea of owning a wolf-hybrid is ‘cool’, but don’t realize the amount of care it actually requires. Wolf-hybrids are not dogs and have different nutritional, life-style, and health needs. A lot of the time, when owners get overwhelmed they leave their wolf-dogs at shelters. By law in California, wolf-dogs must be euthanized if a sanctuary or certified rescue doesn’t take them in. Surprisingly, we get weekly calls about wolf dogs that need homes all over the country. At Jaws and Paws, we give wolf dogs a second chance by saving, vetting, and providing sanctuary for them or finding a sanctuary that may be a better fit. Our wolf dogs act as ambassadors for their wild counterparts, showing people the true nature of wolves. They are a great help in educating the public about wolves and conservation.