Bringing back the wolves : how a predator restored an ecosystem

Title:

Author:

Smith, Kim, 1986- illustrator.

Summary:

"In 1995, the gray wolf was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after a seventy-year absence. All these years later, we can clearly see the cascading effects this has had on the park's ecosystem. This is a spectacular example of a trophic cascade, the term used when an important member of an ecosystem goes missing and many other living things are indirectly affected, causing a chain reaction of events. In the case of the reintroduced wolves of Yellowstone, the chain reaction went as far as changing the behavior of waterways and the surrounding geology. This book is a fascinating exploration of the transformations that have taken place in Yellowstone National Park since the wolves returned -- including the monumental changes to the landscape and to all the animals that live there -- clearly told through lively narrative and food web infographics."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

An unintentional experiment -- Taming the wild -- The food web -- Silence in the valley -- Portrait of a wolf... -- And its pack -- A predator moves in -- An ungulate buffet -- Tree transformation -- Business as usual for bison -- Canids in the middle -- Sky full of predators -- Feathered frenemies -- Grizzled giants... -- And creeping crawlies -- The valley sings again -- The return of the beaver -- Mending the web.

Physical Description:

39 pages : color illustrations, color map ; 29 cm

Subject Term:

Gray wolf -- Reintroduction -- Juvenile literature.

Gray wolf -- Ecology -- Juvenile literature.

Wolves -- Reintroduction -- Juvenile literature.

Ecology -- Juvenile literature.

Forest ecology -- Juvenile literature.

Wildlife management -- Juvenile literature.

Wildlife reintroduction -- Juvenile literature.

Gray wolf -- Juvenile literature.

Wolves -- Juvenile literature.

Endangered species -- Juvenile literature.

Geographic Term:

Yellowstone National Park -- Environmental conditions -- Juvenile literature.

Yellowstone National Park -- Juvenile literature.

Author(s):

Smith, Kim, 1986-

Publisher:

Kids Can Press,

Publication Date:

2020

ISBN:

9781771386258

Publication Information:

Toronto, ON : Kids Can Press, [2020]

Call Number:

J 599.773 ISABELLA

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003511188	Juvenile Nonfiction	599.773 ISABELLA	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

An unintended experiment in Yellowstone National Park, in which an ecosystem is devastated and then remarkably rehabilitated, provides crucial lessons about nature's intricate balancing act.

In the 1800s, hunters were paid by the American government to eliminate threats to livestock on cattle ranches near Yellowstone National Park. They did such a good job that, by 1926, no gray wolf packs were left in the park. Over the following decades, virtually every other part of the park's ecosystem was affected by the loss of the wolves -- from the animals who were their prey, to the plants that were the food for that prey, to the streams that were sheltered by those plants -- and the landscape was in distress. So, starting in 1995, in an attempt to reverse course, the government reintroduced gray wolves to the park. Over time, animal populations stabilized, waterways were restored and a healthy ecosystem was recreated across the land. It's a striking transformation, and a fascinating tale of life's complicated interdependencies.

Jude Isabella's thoroughly researched, expert-reviewed text and Kim Smith's beautiful nature art bring science to life in this captivating story of renewal. Readers will recognize just how complex an ecosystem is and learn about the surprising interconnectedness of its members. Biodiversity, ecosystems, the food chain, habitats, needs of living things and the importance of human stewardship of the environment are all covered through this real-life example, offering direct links to earth and life science curriculums. Food web infographics help reinforce the information. A glossary and index add to the book's usefulness.

Author Notes

Jude Isabella started writing kids' books when she was managing editor of YES Mag: Canada's Science Magazine for Kids. A resident of Victoria, British Columbia, Jude lives with her husband, a raccoon that refuses to be evicted from the bicycle shed and a small group of deer that graze in the garden each summer. When she's not writing or interviewing scientists, Jude is most likely to be found riding her pretty green bicycle.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2--5--Isabella describes how wolves were reintroduced to the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park to reduce the elk population. In the late 1800s, the wolves of Yellowstone were hunted to near extinction. This led to an imbalance where the elk population swelled to over 20,000, resulting in a loss of plant and animal life. A team of experts decided to try an experiment where they released 41 wolves into the Yellowstone environment. Over time, the wolves reduced the elk population, resulting in the ecological restoration of Yellowstone. Each page introduces a new animal, plant, or insect that came back to the park and explains the impact they had on the ecosystem. The soft palette of the illustrations shows the majestic beauty of Yellowstone and its creatures. A glossary, resources, and an index are included in the back matter. VERDICT This fascinating story is sure to captivate young conservationists.--V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC