Capture(Startling Statement): In 2009, about 92,900 sheep were killed in the Western United States. Of those 92,900 sheep, 2,500 were killed by wolves. Motivate(Curiosity): Would you like to know what other predators are killing livestock while wolves take all the blame? Assertion: The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone was a good idea. Preview: In this speech, I will prove to the class that wolves are not diminishing the elk population, killing all the livestock, and are not negatively affecting the ecosystem.
Body #1: Elk Population Many people who were and are against the reintroduction of wolves use the claim that wolves are diminishing the elk population in areas like Yellowstone. This claim leaves out that fact that when the …show more content…
The elk population had lived for several years uncontrolled and many thought that the wolves were completely killing the entire population of elk in Yellowstone. However, what really happened was the wolves were brought back and they immediately started controlling the elk population. The wolves were not diminishing the population, they were simply grooming down the obscene number of elk to a more reasonable population size for a habitat like Yellowstone. According to the Yellowstone National Park Website, the elk population after the wolves were removed was thriving too much and was pushing the limits of Yellowstone’s carrying capacity. Also, by decreasing the number of elk in the park, wolves are making more room for bears, beavers, and several trees that had been eaten down by the intense grazing of the elk herds. The Yellowstone National Park Website also says that the beaver population has done considerably better than it had when the wolves were not present. Many of the beavers in Yellowstone use willow trees to build their dams. When the elk population was overwhelming, the trees were eaten down at a very young age and many never even had the …show more content…
However, many other animals and environmental factors have killed more livestock than the wolf. Overall, only 5% of cattle deaths in the western part of the United States in 2010 were caused by predators. Out of that 5%, only .2% were caused by wolves. Wolves do kill some livestock, but many other predators cause larger losses for the ranchers. According to the Mission Wolf Organization Website, disease, foxes, eagles, coyotes, and weather have been proven to kill more livestock and cattle than the wolf. This all means that wolves may be a predator, but they are not the largest threat against livestock near their natural habitats. Other animals are to blame, but the wolves keep taking all the heat from the media. The reason wolves seem to be at blame for all this is because the wolves have been recently reintroduced and many think their livestock is being killed because of the reintroduction. However, what really is happening is all the other animals like coyotes, bears and foxes are now having to compete with the wolves again for elk and other sources of food. This may cause those predatory animals to turn to livestock that had been left unharmed in the wolves absence. Overall, the wolf is not the major killer of livestock and it has been proven by several studies that livestock dies from more from weather, health problems and
Body #1: Elk Population Many people who were and are against the reintroduction of wolves use the claim that wolves are diminishing the elk population in areas like Yellowstone. This claim leaves out that fact that when the …show more content…
The elk population had lived for several years uncontrolled and many thought that the wolves were completely killing the entire population of elk in Yellowstone. However, what really happened was the wolves were brought back and they immediately started controlling the elk population. The wolves were not diminishing the population, they were simply grooming down the obscene number of elk to a more reasonable population size for a habitat like Yellowstone. According to the Yellowstone National Park Website, the elk population after the wolves were removed was thriving too much and was pushing the limits of Yellowstone’s carrying capacity. Also, by decreasing the number of elk in the park, wolves are making more room for bears, beavers, and several trees that had been eaten down by the intense grazing of the elk herds. The Yellowstone National Park Website also says that the beaver population has done considerably better than it had when the wolves were not present. Many of the beavers in Yellowstone use willow trees to build their dams. When the elk population was overwhelming, the trees were eaten down at a very young age and many never even had the …show more content…
However, many other animals and environmental factors have killed more livestock than the wolf. Overall, only 5% of cattle deaths in the western part of the United States in 2010 were caused by predators. Out of that 5%, only .2% were caused by wolves. Wolves do kill some livestock, but many other predators cause larger losses for the ranchers. According to the Mission Wolf Organization Website, disease, foxes, eagles, coyotes, and weather have been proven to kill more livestock and cattle than the wolf. This all means that wolves may be a predator, but they are not the largest threat against livestock near their natural habitats. Other animals are to blame, but the wolves keep taking all the heat from the media. The reason wolves seem to be at blame for all this is because the wolves have been recently reintroduced and many think their livestock is being killed because of the reintroduction. However, what really is happening is all the other animals like coyotes, bears and foxes are now having to compete with the wolves again for elk and other sources of food. This may cause those predatory animals to turn to livestock that had been left unharmed in the wolves absence. Overall, the wolf is not the major killer of livestock and it has been proven by several studies that livestock dies from more from weather, health problems and