Wolf Reintroduction

The Historic Return of Wolves!

After gray wolves were hunted to near extinction in the lower forty-eight states, the species was listed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The ESA protected gray wolves under federal law and mandated that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) develop a recovery plan to conserve the species. In 1987, the USFWS adopted the Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan which included a proposal to reintroduce gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

A united effort

The idea of bringing back wolves to their western homeland was controversial and the subject of contentious debate. While many people—including ranchers, farmers, and hunters—fiercely opposed the restoration, a whole host of supporters were dedicated to returning wolves to their rightful place in nature. They voted for pro-wolf politicians; spoke for wolves in politics and courtrooms; signed petitions; donated to wolf conservation organizations and to compensate ranchers for verified livestock losses caused by wolves; and influenced ranchers, hunters, family and friends.

Crystal Creek acclimation pen; Jim Peaco; Oct. 1994/NPS Photo

A hard-fought victory

After many hard-fought battles, the Clinton Administration endorsed gray wolf reintroduction. In 1995 and 1996, 66 wolves were captured in Canada and reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park and the central Idaho wilderness. Horace Axtell, a Nez Perce tribal elder and leader of the ancient Seven Drum religion, offered this blessing at a ceremony honoring the wolves' return to Idaho,

We ask the Creator that wolves may be allowed to run free again, that they be able to live, to be a part of us, to be a part of our land, to be a part of the creation for which they were intended.

Great American Wolf, Bruce Hampton, 1998, p. 225

Nez Perce pack wolf pups; Bill Campbell; June 1998/NPS Photo

Wolf conservation has become a dramatic expression of the goodness of the human spirit. It shows that we respect the rights of other life-forms, even when they may cause problems. It shows that we are capable and committed to correcting the mistakes of the past. Wolf restoration is a touchstone for measuring our reverence for what we have inherited and for the legacy we leave our children.

— Michael Phillips, former Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist and Wolf Project leader

Sucsess and ongoing challanges

Gray wolf recovery in America is one of the world's greatest wildlife conservation success stories. However, despite the progress that has been made, the species is far from adequately restored. While the ESA requires a species to be well-distributed throughout its historic range, gray wolves currently occupy less than 15% of their former habitat in the lower forty-eight states. Without protections in place to keep wolves safe, the existence of the wolves our nation worked so hard to restore is again in great danger.