Potential exists for wolves to displace cougars from prey because the cats do not consume their prey quickly. Wolves may also kill cougar. Wolves are known to kill black bears and may displace them from deer or elk kills. Black bear do not make up a significant potion of wolf diet but wolves will kill and eat bears if the opportunity arises. We know enough to know that reintroduction may be possible.
More information is needed to determine whether it is practicable.
For instance, more information is needed about prey populations, road density and other factors that could affect whether wolves could survive. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was asked to investigate a proposal to reintroduce gray wolves to the Olympic Peninsula and provide its findings to Congress. The feasibility study being is the first of three studies in that effort. The other two studies will be completed and released later in 1999. Then it will be up to Congress to direct the course of any future actions relating to wolf reintroduction on the Olympic Peninsula.