num_pages: 40
description: 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.
language: English
title: Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem
publisher: Kids Can Press