America’s Wolves Face an Uncertain FutureThese are precarious times for America’s gray wolves. Wolves were once hunted and trapped to near extinction in the continental US, but healthy wolf populations can again be found around the Great Lakes and in the Northern Rockies. Trucked from Canada, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in the mid 1990s after being nearly hunted and trapped to extinction in the wild in the Lower 48 United States. In the years since, these animals have flourished. Wolves may be villainized in old stories and folktales, but they actually play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They prevent overgrazing by elk and deer that can damage aspens, cottonwoods and shrubs that provide habitat for birds and maintain the natural flow of streams and rivers. Unfortunately, the future of these iconic animals is far from certain. Congress is now considering legislation to eliminate the lifesaving protections grey wolves now enjoy under the Endangered Species Act. Expanded energy development on public lands could also limit wolf habitat, making survival more difficult. How You Can HelpTo protect these quintessentially American animals, Environmental Action has launched a new wolf defense campaign. Already, we’ve mobilized thousands of people to contact Congress and speak out in defense of these important and often misunderstood animals. However, wolves remain threatened — and we need your help to defend them. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved online May 2, 2017. “The New Threat to Wolves in and Around Yellowstone,” The New York Times, May 1, 2017. “Before and After Wolves,” National Geographic, March 10, 2010. “Trump’s Presidency Means the End of Wolves in the American West,” Outside, Jan. 19, 2017.