Reintroducing wolves is not a magical, effortless restoration of fairy tale ecosystems. Yes, wolves will restore some balance to an ecosystem burdened by destructive numbers of deer, elk, and buffalo. Without predators and Indian hunting, these animals are over browsing the land and eroding its beauty, diversity and health. Nevertheless, wolves bring difficulties of their own. In spite of biologists' confidence in their ability to manage wolves and environmentalists' enthusiasm, ranchers and residents in the reintroduction areas have legitimate fears.
Wolves pose both a practical and a symbolic threat.
They do attack livestock and pets. In short, people fear that the costs of this exercise in nostalgic ecotopianism are unfairly concentrated on their families, their stock, and their land values. Nor are their fears groundless. On January 30, a few days after the release of the first 25 wolves, a dead wolf and a dead calf appeared. The wolf was shot after eating the calf.