Between 19, at least 136 wolves were killed in the park by the 1940s, wolf packs were rarely reported. At the time, the wolves’ habit of killing prey species was considered “wanton destruction” of the animals. After all, the Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872 stated that the Secretary of the Interior “shall provide against the wanton destruction of the fish and game found within said Park.” But this was an era before people, including many biologists, understood the concepts of ecosystem and the interconnectedness of species. Today, it is difficult for many people to understand why early park managers would have participated in the extermination of wolves. The gray wolf was present in Yellowstone when the park was established in 1872. Other predators such as bears, cougars, and coyotes were also killed to protect livestock and “more desirable” wildlife species, such as deer and elk. Predator control, including poisoning, was practiced in the park in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With the prey base removed, wolves began to prey on domestic stock, which resulted in humans eliminating wolves from most of their historical range. Much of the wolves’ prey base was destroyed as agriculture flourished. In the 1800s, westward expansion brought settlers and their livestock into direct contact with native predator and prey species.
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