How can park rangers reintroduce extinct species like the Gray Wolf?
Why did the Gray Wolf become extinct? 4th graders from Washington GT Magnet Elementary School, Wake Co. When an animal species goes extinct, it can no longer be found anywhere on earth. Species that have gone extinct cannot be brought back from extiction. When an animal species can no longer be found in a specific area but can be found in others, the species is said to have been extirpated from that area. Animal species can be brought back from extirpation by importing individuals from an area where they can be found into the area where they were extirpated. Gray Wolves were extirpated from the park somewhere around 1926. In the early 1900’s, park officials encouraged the hunting of wolves in order to protect the “safe” and “desirable” animals like Elk, Pronghorn and Bison. However, park officials and scientists soon learned that this apex predator was important to the balance of the ecosystem. As Elk and Pronghorn herds grew unthreatened, they began to overgraze seedling trees and riv
