Wolves, Moose and Biodiversity

My friend Camilla Fox of Project Coyote.org shared the attached article with me describing how top down, trophic predators like the wolf actually contributes to soil fertility through culling the Moose herd. We have all begun to hear about how the wolves that have been re-introduced to Yellowstone have caused a revival of stream banks and Willow trees by causing the Elk herds to "be on the move" and not browse day after day in the same streamside locations. By Elk easing back their consumption of Willow browse, Willows are actually growing up to be trees............bringing back the beaver who now have wood for their dams........................with Elk, Moose and some bison kills on the ground due to Wolf predation, Grizzly Bears, the remaining coyotes, ravens and scores of other wildlife now have another food source(the remains of the wolf kill). Now it has also been established that as the remains of these prey creatures decompose into the ground, the soil in that particular location gets enriched allowing for easier tree and shrub regeneration.................allowing for more shelter and foodstuffs for all the animals who inhabit Yellowstone.....................Re-wild with our native carnivores and benefits cascade through the system for all animals including man!

click here to read entire article