Predator Vs. Prey

The video that we watched about releasing and re-releasing predators in certain areas was really interesting. Prior to the video, I wasn't a big fan of wolves. Looking at them now and knowing how they helped control the elk population at Yellowstone, I've grown to appreciate them and respect their place in the food chain. The elk were essentially killing the land by eating all the trees. If they kept that up, then the environment would have been ruined. I understand the need to reintroduce wolves at Yellowstone, and I'm completely with that idea. At first I was upset that the wolves were killing the coyotes, but after learning that they were scavenging the kills that the wolves made while they were still around, I have to side with the wolves. If I went out hunting and shot a dear, and then I saw another hunter about to go steal the dear I shot, I would react in a similar way (not actually kill the hunter, just get angry with him and demand that he give me back my prize).

I'm also for releasing the cougars in Florida into the wild to help control the wild hog population. Wild hogs are nasty animals that dig up the ground for food, destroying farmlands and killing off crops. On top of that, they are mean-spirited animals that are highly aggressive towards humans and dogs. Just like the guy in the video said, humans needed help because there were just too many hogs for them to handle. After studies, the people who released the cougars confirmed that the cougars were hunting the hogs. In fact, half of their diet consisted of the wild hogs.

The bears, however, I was against releasing them. I couldn't help but feel incredibly bad for the beekeeper in the video. Everything he had that he used to make a living was destroyed by a scavenging bear. This happens almost everywhere where there are bears. They are far more likely to be wandering around a town or village than a mountain lion or a wolf. They may be scared of people most times, but when they can smell food and garbage, the fear pretty much goes out the window.

As for wolves in the UP, I personally feel that the population needs to be controlled. Unsuspecting farmers are losing livestock and people are losing their dogs. I understand the argument that dogs shouldn't be kept outside at night, but I wouldn't be able to stick with that idea if my dog was one of the ones reported to have been killed. I'm not saying exterminate them, because they are crucial to the food chain, but their numbers definitely need to be controlled.