Once spread across much of the North American continent, wolves have been largely eradicated by government predator “control” programs and ranchers to facilitate widespread livestock production on western landscapes. Alot of time on Land that isnt even owned by the Rancher. If he cant afford to feed them on his own property, It sounds like he is not taking care of his animals properly.
Wolves Restore Diversity and Landscapes
Since that time, conservationists have learned of the invaluable role wolves contribute to western landscapes and wildlife as “keystone species”. Studies demonstrate that wolves promote a “trophic cascade” whereby wolves’ interactions with prey engenders a diversity of plant and animal life within the ecological communities that wolves inhabit. Often cited is wolves’ contribution to aspen and willow regrowth as the top-level predator’s presence on a landscape alters elk and other browsing ungulates’ behavior, preventing them from over-grazing by pushing elk off of riparian areas (stream-banks) and across landscapes more regularly. The effect is more grasses, aspen, and willows which makes for better critical habitat for beaver (another “keystone species”), birds, insects, and others. In turn, fish can benefit, other predators that depend on fish benefit, etc. The restorative contribution “cascades” throughout the natural community as habitat becomes more complex providing for more diversity of fish and wildlife.
Northern Rocky Mountain Wolves – Western Watersheds Project.