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Wolves are an iconic species of wildlife, seen by many as symbols of spirituality, strength, and wildness. Yet they can also inspire fear and hatred, making this predator one of the most hotly debated species in today's wildlife conservation efforts.
Though once found in all ecosystem types throughout North America, wolves have been absent in many parts of their native range after being largely eliminated by humans early in the last century. But in the last several decades, wolf reintroductions have been undertaken in the United States in the Northern Rocky Mountains, the Southeast, and the Southwest-with mixed results. With these wolf reintroductions in place or in process, all eyes turn to the Southern Rocky Mountains as the next possible piece of the recovery puzzle.
Bringing together top wildlife biologists, geographers, conservationists, and legal and policy experts, Awakening Spirits examines the feasibility and desirability of reintroducing gray wolves into the Southern Rockies Ecoregion. The extensive research looks not only at the successes and failures of previous reintroduction programs, but also at the history, legal framework, and public attitudes affecting the future of wolves and the long-term ecological health of the Southern Rockies Ecoregion.
By providing a scientific foundation to support action and overcome obstacles, Awakening Spirits is a valuable tool in the struggle to put wolves back on the map in the Southern Rockies, as well as in the larger effort to put a predator back into its place as an important part of ecosystems across the continent.
Acknowledgments
Introduction: A Comprehensive Approach to Evaluating the Potential for Wolf Restoration in the Southern Rockies Michael K. Phillips Phillips, Michael K. 1
Overview
Chapter 1 A Brief History of Human-Nature Interactions Dave Foreman Foreman, Dave 13
Chapter 2 Extermination and Recovery of the Red Wolf and Gray Wolf in the Conterminous United States Brian Miller Miller, Brian 25
Chapter 3 The Importance of Large Carnivores Michael K. Phillips Phillips, Michael K. 49
Chapter 4 Variables Influencing Carnivore Translocation James A. Estes Estes, James A. 61
Social Assessment
Chapter 5 The Human Landscape Doug Shinneman Shinneman, Doug 79
Chapter 6 Public Attitudes toward Wolves and Wolf Recovery Hannah Gosnell Gosnell, Hannah 103
Chapter 7 The Legal Framework for Wolf Recovery in the Southern Rockies Melissa Hailey Hailey, Melissa 119
Chapter 8 Policy: Integrated Problem Solving as an Approach to Wolf Management Richard P. Reading Reading, Richard P. 147
Ecological Assessment
Chapter 9 Natural Landscapes of the Southern Rockies Kyran Kunkel Kunkel, Kyran 161
Chapter 10 Disease and Translocation Issues of Gray Wolves Dave Hunter Hunter, Dave 187
Chapter 11 Potential for and Implications of Wolf Restoration in the Southern Rockies Douglas W. Smith Smith, Douglas W. 197
References 219
Contributors 247
Index 251
Overview
Wolves are an iconic species of wildlife, seen by many as symbols of spirituality, strength, and wildness. Yet they can also inspire fear and hatred, making this predator one of the most hotly debated species in today's wildlife conservation efforts.
Though once found in all ecosystem types throughout North America, wolves have been absent in many parts of their native range after being largely eliminated by humans early in the last century. But in the last several decades, wolf...