Yellowstone aspens grow tall again after 80 years thanks to wolves
[quote]Aspen trees in Yellowstone National Park's northern range are experiencing their first new generation of growth in 80 years, according to a new study published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. The research found that about a third of 87 surveyed aspen stands now contain tall, healthy saplings throughout – a change directly attributed to the reintroduction of wolves to the park in 1995.
[quote]Gray wolves disappeared from Yellowstone by 1930 following extensive hunting and government eradication programs. Without these apex predators, elk populations soared to an estimated 18,000, with their constant browsing preventing aspen saplings from establishing themselves. Surveys in the 1990s found virtually no young aspen trees in the area.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 28, 2025 6:58 PM
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They could have just put electrified fences around the trees.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 28, 2025 2:53 PM
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And the cables would be pulled from where exactly?
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 28, 2025 2:54 PM
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You'd need batteries for that and then it turns into a whole thing. Plus, the area is quite large, so who's gonna pay for all this? Not the federal government, and god knows it won't be Wyoming. This study was done by Oregon researchers, those deplorables in Wyoming don't give a shit about any of this.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 28, 2025 3:11 PM
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Once again we discover the true invasive species is humans.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 28, 2025 3:55 PM
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Good. Deer, elk and their ilk are like goats and just mow everything down
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 28, 2025 5:09 PM
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It’s common to allow hunters to cull a herd, so that’s another alternative.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | July 28, 2025 6:06 PM
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Hunters ARE culling the herd. Those hunters are wolves. This is fine, and with far fewer drunken hunting accidents.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 28, 2025 6:58 PM
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