Could the Grey Wolf Become Extinct?

The Grey Wolves were first listed as an endangered specie on March 11, 1967. But thanks to Yellowstone National Park and other refugees for the wolves, they were taken off the endangered list in 2004.

The thought of wolves, usually scare people. Yet, wolves are actually scared of us. They will do their best to avoid people. Although, a wolf could easily kill a human there is no verifiable evidence that a healthy wild wolf has ever deliberately attacked or seriously injured a human being in North America. They also do not like to travel alone. Wolves usually travel in packs, consisting of their mate and their offspring, plus any other non-breeding adult.

Yet, they do need to be protected from us. Some people would love the idea to kill them. That was one major factor in putting them on the endangered list.

To the best of the knowledge of researchers there are only 2,200 wolves living in the wild. Most live in protected refuges such a Yellowstone Park. That is why it is so scary that the numbers of Grey Wolves in these refuges are beginning to decline. It would be impossible to really know if the numbers living in the wild are declining, too.

Yellowstone National Park is located in Billings, Montana. Eleven years ago Grey Wolves were introduced to the park. Then in 1995 and 1996, thirty-one wolves were moved from Canada into the park, where the were released. Each year, the number of wolves slowly raised.

In 2004, it was reported that there were 112 pups and 59 adults living in Yellowstone National Park.

But by December 2005, they became aware of an alarming problem. Many of the newborn Grey Wolf pups have died.