You might remember stories about the successful reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone Park, but are you aware of the, albeit very small, gray wolf population in the Adirondack Park? Yes, there is a possibility that flash of fur in the woods is not a coyote or a stray dog. However, the status of these local gray wolves is in a state of flux with no clear decision about their future in sight.
Local environmental activist group Protect the Adirondacks has reignited the ongoing debate over the reintroduction of a species into an area where their population has diminished.
At the moment, there aren’t any major efforts underway to determine the viability of reintroducing wolves to the area, but if a new study were approved, then the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would conduct it.
Back in 2005, a DEC study determined that the feasibility of bringing back wolves to the Adirondacks at the time was not good. Indeed, Gordon Batcheller, the DEC’s chief wildlife biologist, reinforced to Adirondack Explorer the department’s stance that a reintroduction process requires both funding they don’t have and a large staff to maintain this type of complex initiative.
This raises the question of what makes Adirondack gray wolves special compared to other endangered species. Before the 19th century, gray wolves were one of the top predators within the Adirondacks and New York. When mass huntings destroyed their population, the coyote took its role and prospered. If people want wolves to return to the area, then the overall impact needs consideration.
Some of the pros that supporters of wolf reintroduction mention focus on the ecological and economical benefits. In Yellowstone Park, the reintroduced wolves control the hoofed animal population, which benefits the natural surroundings and smaller herbivores. Wolves in Adirondack Park could play a similar role and control the deer population. Additionally, wolves are fascinating creatures, and people visit Algonquin Park and Yellowstone to see the former top predator, so they provide an economic value to those places.
On the other hand, opinions on wolf reintroduction are not all positive. Many of the cons address the question of wolf control. Gray wolves in the area represent a danger to many landowners and farmers. A reintroduction places pets and livestock at risk, and new laws over how to manage the wolves complicates the issue. Most importantly, any changes to the Adirondack landscape and its current food chain requires the universal support of local communities, which it lacks.
Although we may see the Adirondack gray wolf return on its own one day, the idea of an official reintroduction faces multiple challenges.
Considering these and other pros and cons, do you support wolf reintroduction to the ADKs?
Sources:
- Victor Post – Lisenbee: Bringing wolves back to ADK is a bad idea
- Rome Sentinel – Group seeks study on reintroudcing wolves, cougars to Adirondacks
- North Country Public Radio (NCPR) – Should we bring wolves and cougars to the Adirondack wilderness?
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – The Life of the Gray Wolf
- Adirondack Explorer – The wolf at our door
