The Return of the Wolf To Yellowstone

It's been more than a decade since the wolf recovery program was launched in Yellowstone National Park. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.

With nearly a dozen packs loping through the park's 2.2 million acres, the environmental benefits have been widespread. Elk herds, which for decades grew unnaturally large in population due to a lack of this keystone predator, finally have some pressure on that growth. That translates into healthier herds, as wolves take out the weakest links of the herds.

With elk having to be on the move more so than in the past, they have less time to browse down vegetation in the park. A benefit of that is the return of some aspen stands.

While this videocast provides some insights into Yellowstone's wolves, you can learn more about the recovery program, and the various packs, at this site.