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Wolf Week!
Wolf Week!
Wolves have long been considered icons of fear and danger, but it's difficult to hold on to that assumption when you realize that humans almost drove the wolves of North America to extinction at the turn of the 19th century. Why? Because wolves, as apex predators in the food chain, were preying on livestock being grown solely for human consumption.
This is why the third week of October is being celebrated by wolf advocates as Wolf Awareness Week. The weeklong observance is "a time when organizations work together to get out information on this charismatic and often misunderstood species."
The conservation of these iconic apex predators remains a politically charged issue that pits conservationists against ranchers and hunters. Needless to say, finding a balance in wolf management is a contentious topic. While wolves continue to face many hurdles in their recovery, awareness is increasing. You can learn more about these amazing creatures and celebrate Wolf Awareness Week with these photos of downright adorable wolf cubs.
The reintroduction of one of the most imperiled subspecies of gray wolf, the Mexican gray wolf, has been one of the most controversial battles in America's wolf wars. The Mexican wolf population has less than 100 documented individuals, and while they remain under federal management, conservation efforts have been hampered by illegal shootings. Just last week, one individual was found dead within Arizona's Blue Range recovery area.
While robust populations of wolves are not good for ranchers trying to maintain livestock, scientists have found that the presence of wolves can pose major benefits to other animals living in the same ecosystem. For example, after wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, researchers found that the ability of wolves to keep populations of elk in check directly correlated to how well grizzly bears are able to fatten themselves up before winter hibernation.
If you feel that every species plays a precious and unique role in the ecosystem of our planet, you can help to preserve them by limiting the amount of meat you consume -- less land dedicated to livestock means more habitat for wild species.
Celebrate Wolf Week by going meatless. Hunt for some great promotions at http://KindMeal.my !
Source: http://bit.ly/1w60tiL
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