Some new findings from Yellowstone Park. Return of Wolves preserves the streams.
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/wolves-return-to-yellowstone-boon-for-streams.htm
And no doubt wolves keep some of the human traffic at bay. Think hunters, hikers, campers, and most of all fishermen, that some think are the destroyers of our stream side habitat.
Dave
Hmmm. I personally think this is a far reach for the true reason for vegetation regrowth. Anytime they used the term (title) scientist, I get skeptical. Who funded the study? I wonder if this has anything to do with the recent decision to take the Wolf off the protected species list. I know many “scientist” are against that for various reasons. Ranchers are for it because of cattle lose to the wolf. Just wondering.
John,
You’re expecting a logical explanation? I turned the page when I read “funded study”. WHO in hell thought it was worth to fund a “study” to validate this PREPOSTEROUS conclusion . To call it a S T R E T C H is adding dignity to a bunch of tree huggin BS. I do , however, wish I had chosen “environmental studies” ( not available in 65’-69’,) at UW to earn the credentials to wear a khaki shirt and a forum to apply for funding for similar “studies”. As a result. I had to WORK for a living.
Mark
Mark,
I thought this might give you a charge. At least two of us feel that way.
It’s the vegetarians and vegan that are the problem, grazing on the stream side.
This science has been known anecdotally to those of us who live here for at least ten years. Probably more like 15. When I first started fishing here on family trips from 93 to 99, the streamside vegetation on all small meadow-type streams was grazed to less than knee high with the exception of the cottonwoods. Nowadays the willows often form full canopies and the beavers are returning (we got 14-15" brook trout out of beaver ponds on a creek that shall remain nameless this season). This is despite the fact that since 1995, the year of the wolf reintroduction, the following were drought and high-heat years: 98, 2000-2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016. This should have knocked the vegetation down and on some steep SW-facing slopes there are signs of heat/drought stress on plants (this is why the Gardner has been prone to mudslides for the past ten years). There are less elk to graze the bushes but more importantly they don’t hang out for as long in the valleys. They’re much more often on the hillsides where they are more surefooted than the wolves. I see this all the time even on the lower Gardner River where wolves almost never go. The elk used to hang out for hours in the stream bottoms and now they are much more likely bust across and run up on the hillsides. We’re seeing a lot more deer in these riparian areas because they like the brush much more. They do a lot less damage, too, because they’re ecologically “browsers” rather than “grazers.” They tend to nibble and move on rather than eat everything down to bare dirt.
Trophic cascades are cool.
Thanks for the reply Long for Cutts, great explanation.
Yep, that’s a great explanation and a good thing for the environment.
I agree. A very detailed explanation, indeed. Learning a lot from this thread alone.
By the way, just in case anyone’s interested, my old associate is selling a few 20 inch wheels. If anyone’s interested, feel free to PM me.
I was glad to hear the input from Long For Cuts. I read this article a while back and even with only anecdotal evidence, I found the reasoning to be sound. I was a wildlife management major way back in the day and learned how important every link in the chain is to maintain a healthy, growing environment. I worked in my major for a number of years, but decided that I needed to make a living if I was ever going to afford to have a family. People would often visit the fish hatchery where I worked in North Central NH, usually on a beautiful summer morning or fall afternoon. They would remark, this is so beautiful, they shouldn’t even have to pay you to work here. I’d nod my head in agreement and ask them if they’d like to come back in late January when it’s 25 below zero with a chill factor of -40. They could then help me chop holes in the ice to feed the fingerling Salmon and brook trout. Working at a job like wildlife management or other jobs especially with wildlife, has the drawback that the people who pay you also think you must really love your work, so they don’t have to pay you much more than minimum wages. I’m thankful that we have professional men and women who do these jobs so that we can enjoy the fruit of their labors. Yes, they do it for the love of the job, because it sure isn’t for the money.