In 1995, 14 wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park.

No one expected the miracle that the wolves would bring.

It started with the wolves hunting the deer, this led to a rapid decrease in the deer population. The wolves' presence also made the deer avoid parts in the park where they were and easy prey.

Thanks to the deer's absence, those parts started to regenerate. Forests of aspen and willow trees started to flourish.

That's when things really started to happen. With trees and bushes came more berries and bugs. As soon as that happened, various bird species started moving in.

With the increasing tree population, also another species was attracted. The beaver, previously extinct in the region, moved back. And the dams they built provided habitats for otters, muskrats and reptiles.

The wolves also killed coyotes, which meant more hawks, red foxes, badgers and weasels in the park. Even the population of bald eagles and ravens rose.

But here's where it gets really interesting. The wolves changed the behavior of the rivers. With more balance between predator and prey came the possibility for other species to thrive. There was less erosion because of increased vegetation. And the river banks were stabilized, the channels narrowed, more pools formed, and the rivers stayed more fixed in their courses.

So the wolves did not only transform the great ecosystem of Yellowstone, they also changed the park's physical geography.

#nature #ecology #wolves #yellowstone #parks