This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 18 August 2021 and 16 December 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Jmm00007.
Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT ( talk) 23:44, 16 January 2022 (UTC)
Propose the article be reorganized along the lines of the following:
The History of wolves in Yellowstone is characterized by three phases: 1872-1926 the Extirpation phase; 1926-1995 the Absence phase; and 1995-present the Re-introduction phase. Each phase of this history cronicles different ecological impacts on the park, evolving scientific and cultural understanding (or biases) of the Gray Wolf, and evolving government and park administration attitudes and programs surrounding the Gray Wolf and its relationship to the park's purpose.
Additionally, the addition of a broader range of secondary sources will create a more balanced article:
-- Mike Cline ( talk) 12:53, 17 November 2009 (UTC)
I think a necessary addition to this article would be the criticism levelled against the reintroduction by some biologists that the wolves used for the reintroduction were not of the same stock as the original Yellowstone wolves. I shall delve further into this and find appropriate sources. Mariomassone ( talk) 01:17, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
I would like to challenge the leading statement in the lead paragraph which reads as follows:
Could an editor provide a verbatim quote of the sources that actually say this? -- Gavin Collins ( talk| contribs) 21:24, 6 July 2010 (UTC)
In an attempt to explain the origin of the lead sentence I offer the following.
Now, first and foremost this is a history article which attempts to summarize the history of Wolves (as a species) in Yellowstone National Park. It is a history that is documented in a wide variety of sources to include general park histories, specific wolf histories, regional wolf histories, peer reviewed journals, scientific and government publications. Typically histories are presented chronologically, and the period method is a common method of doing so. [1]
So let’s analyze the request, allegation and the facts.
All these facts are adequately supported by reliable sources in the body of the article. Thus using an accepted form of historical presentation, three logical periods were summarized—Extirpation (1872-1926), Absence (1926-1995) and Reintroduction (1996-present). Although no single source labels these periods exactly as they are labeled in the lead sentence, all the comprehensive historical sources confirm the dates and condition of wolves during those dates, as well as generally discuss the wolves in chapters and periods closely paralleling these periods. Everything in the lead sentence is factual and supported by multiple sources, especially the beginning and ending dates of each period. The sentence draws no new conclusion. Both the period labels—Extirpation and Reintroduction are widely used in the sources in connection with the time period associated with them. The period label Absence may not have been used literally in connection with the period 1926-1995, but ample sources say wolves were not present in Yellowstone during that period and the word Absence is a concise prose way of saying they were not there which is a fact supported by multiple sources.
So in conclusion, it is the opinion of this editor that the lead is not Original Research as all the facts and the arrangement of those facts is supported by reliable sources. There is no synthesis (in a WP:SYN context) as no new conclusion not supported by sources is drawn. As for the facts, they are indisputable and fully comply with WP:V.
The question I have is to what end this request has been made. Specifically, it would be useful to know what facts in the lead the requestor believes are not attributable to a reliable source, and if synthesis is the issue, what new conclusion is not supported by reliable sources. The lead can easily be rewritten to remove any supported facts or unsupported conclusions, once they are identified. The lead could easily read: The History of wolves in Yellowstone National Park beings in 1872 and continues to the present day. From 1872–1926 gray wolves were extirpated from Yellowstone. Wolves were absent from Yellowstone during the period 1926–1995. In January 1995 they were reintroduced into the park where they thrive today.
This lead is factual, supported by reliable sources and draws no unsupportable conclusions. None of the facts presented in the current lead are any different from the facts presented in this lead. Removing the period labels changes nothing that follows. Is this now a better lead? Maybe. Is it original research? No.
There is a bit of a postscript to this discussion. The editor, who originally created this article, did so by parroting (nearly a copyvio) of a very POV environmentally oriented website. The article was very POV, most of the assertions were unsupported by reliable sources and for the most part, it was a rant against those who were against the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone. I salvaged the article along with a few other editors, taking a scholarly and balanced approach to the history of a controversial subject—Wolves in Yellowstone. The sources used by myself and other editors contributing to this article are impeccable and for the most part written by the pre-eminent scholars and scientists associated with Yellowstone. Both Haines and Schullery were official park historians. Bartlett and Chase are pre-eminent critics of the National Park Service and its management practices. The contemporary scientists and government wolf specialists cited are leaders in the field of wolf management. There is still work to be done, but this article is (I think) representative of how a controversial subject can be presented in a completely encyclopedic and neutral way.-- Mike Cline ( talk) 02:32, 8 July 2010 (UTC)
{{
cite book}}
: Unknown parameter |editors=
ignored (|editor=
suggested) (
help). Although not directly related to the lead sentence, it will provide some very contemporary insights into the impacts of the wolf reintroduction and a great addition to this history.--
Mike Cline (
talk) 03:22, 9 July 2010 (UTC)
The truth of the matter is that even in Featured Articles, introductions oftentimes are somewhat scanty on references...the introductions simply provide an overview of what the article is about. I have more to write about this shortly.-- MONGO 00:29, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
I have asked for sources that support this leading paragraph, but all that is being put on these talk pages so far is more unsubstantiated opinion and hearsay. Lets have a look at the article and its sources, directly and in detail. The leading paragraph reads as follows:
The history of wolves in Yellowstone is characterized by three phases: the extirpation phase (1872–1926); the absence phase (1926–1995); and the re-introduction phase (1995–present). [1] [2] Each phase of this history chronicles different ecological impacts on the park (and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem), evolving scientific and cultural understanding (or biases) of the Gray Wolf, and evolving government and park administration attitudes and programs surrounding the Gray Wolf and its relationship to the park's purpose.
Sources
The problem I have with the first reference is that this is highly unlikely to be the source for lead paragraph. I have looked online, and as far as I can see, there is only one reference to wolves in the entire book, on page 97. If the index is to be believed, this book does not contain much information about wolves, let alone the "History of wolves in Yellowstone", or anything to support the lead paragraph. However, if there is anything relevant to this discussion contained in this book, then please cite it here so we can have a look.
I have looked through the second reference myself (pages 3-33 of Weaver [2]) and their is nothing to support the leading paragraph. Just to give you an idea by what I mean, the main body of the article (ignoring the appendicies) is comprised of the following sections :
There is no mention of the history being divided into three phases, and in particular; there is no evidence to suggest that a programme of "extirpation" took place starting in 1872 (when the National Park was established); and it does not even mention any activity in 1995. Furthermore, the term extirpation is not used in Weaver's article at all, and in particular, nowhere in this book is the term "extirpation" used in relation to the time frame 1872–1926; in fact there are statements in this source that actually suggest that the deliberate killing of wolves to control their population did not take place until 1914.
If the opening paragraph is a synthesis, its not clear which sources they bring together. More than likely the lead paragraph is original research because the statements of fact and opinion it contains cannot be supported by any sources. It was probably written by some editor who thought they knew what they were writing about, and was not aware of Wikipedia's policy on original research.
I do not accept that this is an appropriate lead for this article, and I think Mike Cline's addition of bogus references, and a refusal to respond to my request, however well intentioned, is actually a hindrance to improving this article. I don't accept that this type of original research is acceptable, particularly in view of the fact that this article topic has such a rich selection of sources from which it is possible to write decent, verifiable content. --
Gavin Collins (
talk|
contribs) 02:42, 10 July 2010 (UTC)
The wolves are back, and for the first time in more than 50 years, young aspen trees are growing again in the northern range of Yellowstone National Park. The findings of a new study, just published in Biological Conservation, show that a process called "the ecology of fear" is at work, a balance has been restored to an important natural ecosystem, and aspen trees are surviving elk browsing for the first time in decades. The research, done by forestry researchers at Oregon State University, supports theories about "trophic cascades" of ecological damage that can be caused when key predators -- in this case, wolves -- are removed from an ecosystem, and show that recovery is possible when the predators are returned. The results are especially encouraging for the health of America's first national park, but may also have implications for other areas of the West and other important predators. After an absence of 70 years, wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone Park in 1995, and elk populations began a steady decline, cut in half over the past decade. Also, the presence of a natural predator appears to have altered the behavior of the remaining elk, which in their fear of wolves tend to avoid browsing in certain areas where they feel most vulnerable. The two factors together have caused a significant reduction in elk browsing on young aspen shoots, allowing them to survive to heights where some are now above the animal browsing level. "This is really exciting, and it's great news for Yellowstone," said William Ripple, a professor in the OSU College of Forestry. "We've seen some recovery of willows and cottonwood, but this is the first time we can document significant aspen growth, a tree species in decline all over the West. We've waited a long time to see this, but now we're optimistic that things may be on the right track." The study found significant numbers of aspen, especially in streamside "riparian" zones, that have grown from tiny shoots in the past decade to heights of more than seven feet -- a key point in their long-term survival, placing their crowns above the height easily browsed by elk and other animals. Tree growth in some stands has been particularly apparent just in the past 4-5 years. The long-term decline, to the point of localized extinctions, of aspen and cottonwood trees in Yellowstone National Park dates to the extirpation of the last known wolf packs in the 1920s. Prior to the re-introduction of wolves, scientists found there were many small sprouting shoots of these important tree species, and numbers of large trees 70 years old or more -- but practically nothing in between. High populations of grazing ungulates, primarily elk, had grazed on the small tree shoots at leisure and with little fear of attack. But the ecological damage, researchers say, went far beyond just trees. The loss of trees and shrubs opened the door to significant stream erosion. Beaver dams declined. Food webs broke down, and the chain of effects rippled through birds, insects, fish and other plant and animal species. Aspen, a beautiful hardwood tree with golden fall color, a key to ecosystem biodiversity and a hallmark feature of mountain areas across the West, has been the focus of concern. Unlike willows, aspen are more easily killed or suppressed by browsing and have been the slowest to show any recovery. In some areas of the West, up to 90 percent of the aspen have disappeared. "When I first looked at these degraded ecosystems in the mid-1990s in Yellowstone, I had doubts we would ever be able to bring the aspen back," said Robert Beschta, a professor emeritus of forestry at OSU and co-author on the study. "There were so many elk, and the stream ecosystems were in such poor shape. The level of recovery we're seeing is very encouraging." The OSU researchers say they believe there are two forces at work -- both the lower populations of elk, and their changed behavior due to fear of wolves -- but it's difficult to determine exactly which force is the most significant. Of note, they say, is that elk populations now are actually higher than they were in the mid-1960s, when aspen trees were still in significant decline. The major change from that period of time is the presence of wolves. The effect of behavioral changes "may be equal to or even greater than" lower elk population levels in allowing tree survival, the researchers said in their report.
— Science Daily, July 31, 2007
It seems we are making progress here and Extirpation is the sticking point. Interestingly, Gavin believes: "extirpation" is problematical: whilst it is a term that can be applied to the wolves in Yellowstone, it is such an unusual turn of phrase that only better quality coverage can justify its use, because there is no reason to use such a term that requires a definition when a simpler one that does not and is more widely used (such as control) will do.. The flaw in this opinion, is that nothing is simpler than the construct of extirpation. WP has an article on it, and that article is linked to 100s of other articles. It is a precise term, unambiguous, and leaving no doubt as to its meaning. That it can be applied to the chronology of wolves in yellowstone is undisputable. This is just one such source River channel dynamics following extirpation of wolves in northwestern Yellowstone National Park, USA that relates the construct of Extirpation to wolves in Yellowstone. Although the number of sources available to support this construct is not infinite, the number of sources that would offer an alternate interpretation are next to zero. If we are quibling over the dates during which extirpation occured, OK, we can go with the scientific consensus (1926) or another date if the predominant number of sources favor a different date. If we are quibling over whether or not official and unofficial predator control and eradication programs contributed to the extirpation of wolves in Yellowstone, I don't think anyone will say the wolves left town on their own accord. Extirpation is a condition and as of 1926, sources say wolves were extirpated from Yellowstone. This is a history article. It describes, in some semblance of chronology the historical events related to and conditions of wolves as a species in Yellowstone National Park from its creation (1872) to the present. The term Extirpation is a valid, and well sourced term, describing the condition of wolves in Yellowstone as of 1926. It may be an unusual turn of phrase in Middlesex but in the world of Yellowstone, Wolf management and endangered species, there is nothing unusual about it.-- Mike Cline ( talk) 01:28, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
This link available here from a reliable source states the following.....
See also the Wikipedia article on Local extinction...-- MONGO 01:45, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
The article is currently at 36,018 bytes, and the lead could use a major expansion. Please help. Viriditas ( talk) 21:44, 9 July 2010 (UTC)
See "Is the Wolf a Real American Hero?" opinion in The New York Times by Arthur Middleton March 9, 2014 User:Fred Bauder Talk 09:02, 10 March 2014 (UTC)
Here is another article with quotes from several biologists and links to studies casting doubt on the "trophic cascde" myth. RampagingCarrot ( talk) 13:11, 26 September 2022 (UTC)
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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 28 March 2022 and 30 May 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Peer reviewers: Blibraty.
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 8 January 2024 and 20 April 2024. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Noastorm ( article contribs).
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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 18 August 2021 and 16 December 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Jmm00007.
Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT ( talk) 23:44, 16 January 2022 (UTC)
Propose the article be reorganized along the lines of the following:
The History of wolves in Yellowstone is characterized by three phases: 1872-1926 the Extirpation phase; 1926-1995 the Absence phase; and 1995-present the Re-introduction phase. Each phase of this history cronicles different ecological impacts on the park, evolving scientific and cultural understanding (or biases) of the Gray Wolf, and evolving government and park administration attitudes and programs surrounding the Gray Wolf and its relationship to the park's purpose.
Additionally, the addition of a broader range of secondary sources will create a more balanced article:
-- Mike Cline ( talk) 12:53, 17 November 2009 (UTC)
I think a necessary addition to this article would be the criticism levelled against the reintroduction by some biologists that the wolves used for the reintroduction were not of the same stock as the original Yellowstone wolves. I shall delve further into this and find appropriate sources. Mariomassone ( talk) 01:17, 3 December 2009 (UTC)
I would like to challenge the leading statement in the lead paragraph which reads as follows:
Could an editor provide a verbatim quote of the sources that actually say this? -- Gavin Collins ( talk| contribs) 21:24, 6 July 2010 (UTC)
In an attempt to explain the origin of the lead sentence I offer the following.
Now, first and foremost this is a history article which attempts to summarize the history of Wolves (as a species) in Yellowstone National Park. It is a history that is documented in a wide variety of sources to include general park histories, specific wolf histories, regional wolf histories, peer reviewed journals, scientific and government publications. Typically histories are presented chronologically, and the period method is a common method of doing so. [1]
So let’s analyze the request, allegation and the facts.
All these facts are adequately supported by reliable sources in the body of the article. Thus using an accepted form of historical presentation, three logical periods were summarized—Extirpation (1872-1926), Absence (1926-1995) and Reintroduction (1996-present). Although no single source labels these periods exactly as they are labeled in the lead sentence, all the comprehensive historical sources confirm the dates and condition of wolves during those dates, as well as generally discuss the wolves in chapters and periods closely paralleling these periods. Everything in the lead sentence is factual and supported by multiple sources, especially the beginning and ending dates of each period. The sentence draws no new conclusion. Both the period labels—Extirpation and Reintroduction are widely used in the sources in connection with the time period associated with them. The period label Absence may not have been used literally in connection with the period 1926-1995, but ample sources say wolves were not present in Yellowstone during that period and the word Absence is a concise prose way of saying they were not there which is a fact supported by multiple sources.
So in conclusion, it is the opinion of this editor that the lead is not Original Research as all the facts and the arrangement of those facts is supported by reliable sources. There is no synthesis (in a WP:SYN context) as no new conclusion not supported by sources is drawn. As for the facts, they are indisputable and fully comply with WP:V.
The question I have is to what end this request has been made. Specifically, it would be useful to know what facts in the lead the requestor believes are not attributable to a reliable source, and if synthesis is the issue, what new conclusion is not supported by reliable sources. The lead can easily be rewritten to remove any supported facts or unsupported conclusions, once they are identified. The lead could easily read: The History of wolves in Yellowstone National Park beings in 1872 and continues to the present day. From 1872–1926 gray wolves were extirpated from Yellowstone. Wolves were absent from Yellowstone during the period 1926–1995. In January 1995 they were reintroduced into the park where they thrive today.
This lead is factual, supported by reliable sources and draws no unsupportable conclusions. None of the facts presented in the current lead are any different from the facts presented in this lead. Removing the period labels changes nothing that follows. Is this now a better lead? Maybe. Is it original research? No.
There is a bit of a postscript to this discussion. The editor, who originally created this article, did so by parroting (nearly a copyvio) of a very POV environmentally oriented website. The article was very POV, most of the assertions were unsupported by reliable sources and for the most part, it was a rant against those who were against the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone. I salvaged the article along with a few other editors, taking a scholarly and balanced approach to the history of a controversial subject—Wolves in Yellowstone. The sources used by myself and other editors contributing to this article are impeccable and for the most part written by the pre-eminent scholars and scientists associated with Yellowstone. Both Haines and Schullery were official park historians. Bartlett and Chase are pre-eminent critics of the National Park Service and its management practices. The contemporary scientists and government wolf specialists cited are leaders in the field of wolf management. There is still work to be done, but this article is (I think) representative of how a controversial subject can be presented in a completely encyclopedic and neutral way.-- Mike Cline ( talk) 02:32, 8 July 2010 (UTC)
{{
cite book}}
: Unknown parameter |editors=
ignored (|editor=
suggested) (
help). Although not directly related to the lead sentence, it will provide some very contemporary insights into the impacts of the wolf reintroduction and a great addition to this history.--
Mike Cline (
talk) 03:22, 9 July 2010 (UTC)
The truth of the matter is that even in Featured Articles, introductions oftentimes are somewhat scanty on references...the introductions simply provide an overview of what the article is about. I have more to write about this shortly.-- MONGO 00:29, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
I have asked for sources that support this leading paragraph, but all that is being put on these talk pages so far is more unsubstantiated opinion and hearsay. Lets have a look at the article and its sources, directly and in detail. The leading paragraph reads as follows:
The history of wolves in Yellowstone is characterized by three phases: the extirpation phase (1872–1926); the absence phase (1926–1995); and the re-introduction phase (1995–present). [1] [2] Each phase of this history chronicles different ecological impacts on the park (and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem), evolving scientific and cultural understanding (or biases) of the Gray Wolf, and evolving government and park administration attitudes and programs surrounding the Gray Wolf and its relationship to the park's purpose.
Sources
The problem I have with the first reference is that this is highly unlikely to be the source for lead paragraph. I have looked online, and as far as I can see, there is only one reference to wolves in the entire book, on page 97. If the index is to be believed, this book does not contain much information about wolves, let alone the "History of wolves in Yellowstone", or anything to support the lead paragraph. However, if there is anything relevant to this discussion contained in this book, then please cite it here so we can have a look.
I have looked through the second reference myself (pages 3-33 of Weaver [2]) and their is nothing to support the leading paragraph. Just to give you an idea by what I mean, the main body of the article (ignoring the appendicies) is comprised of the following sections :
There is no mention of the history being divided into three phases, and in particular; there is no evidence to suggest that a programme of "extirpation" took place starting in 1872 (when the National Park was established); and it does not even mention any activity in 1995. Furthermore, the term extirpation is not used in Weaver's article at all, and in particular, nowhere in this book is the term "extirpation" used in relation to the time frame 1872–1926; in fact there are statements in this source that actually suggest that the deliberate killing of wolves to control their population did not take place until 1914.
If the opening paragraph is a synthesis, its not clear which sources they bring together. More than likely the lead paragraph is original research because the statements of fact and opinion it contains cannot be supported by any sources. It was probably written by some editor who thought they knew what they were writing about, and was not aware of Wikipedia's policy on original research.
I do not accept that this is an appropriate lead for this article, and I think Mike Cline's addition of bogus references, and a refusal to respond to my request, however well intentioned, is actually a hindrance to improving this article. I don't accept that this type of original research is acceptable, particularly in view of the fact that this article topic has such a rich selection of sources from which it is possible to write decent, verifiable content. --
Gavin Collins (
talk|
contribs) 02:42, 10 July 2010 (UTC)
The wolves are back, and for the first time in more than 50 years, young aspen trees are growing again in the northern range of Yellowstone National Park. The findings of a new study, just published in Biological Conservation, show that a process called "the ecology of fear" is at work, a balance has been restored to an important natural ecosystem, and aspen trees are surviving elk browsing for the first time in decades. The research, done by forestry researchers at Oregon State University, supports theories about "trophic cascades" of ecological damage that can be caused when key predators -- in this case, wolves -- are removed from an ecosystem, and show that recovery is possible when the predators are returned. The results are especially encouraging for the health of America's first national park, but may also have implications for other areas of the West and other important predators. After an absence of 70 years, wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone Park in 1995, and elk populations began a steady decline, cut in half over the past decade. Also, the presence of a natural predator appears to have altered the behavior of the remaining elk, which in their fear of wolves tend to avoid browsing in certain areas where they feel most vulnerable. The two factors together have caused a significant reduction in elk browsing on young aspen shoots, allowing them to survive to heights where some are now above the animal browsing level. "This is really exciting, and it's great news for Yellowstone," said William Ripple, a professor in the OSU College of Forestry. "We've seen some recovery of willows and cottonwood, but this is the first time we can document significant aspen growth, a tree species in decline all over the West. We've waited a long time to see this, but now we're optimistic that things may be on the right track." The study found significant numbers of aspen, especially in streamside "riparian" zones, that have grown from tiny shoots in the past decade to heights of more than seven feet -- a key point in their long-term survival, placing their crowns above the height easily browsed by elk and other animals. Tree growth in some stands has been particularly apparent just in the past 4-5 years. The long-term decline, to the point of localized extinctions, of aspen and cottonwood trees in Yellowstone National Park dates to the extirpation of the last known wolf packs in the 1920s. Prior to the re-introduction of wolves, scientists found there were many small sprouting shoots of these important tree species, and numbers of large trees 70 years old or more -- but practically nothing in between. High populations of grazing ungulates, primarily elk, had grazed on the small tree shoots at leisure and with little fear of attack. But the ecological damage, researchers say, went far beyond just trees. The loss of trees and shrubs opened the door to significant stream erosion. Beaver dams declined. Food webs broke down, and the chain of effects rippled through birds, insects, fish and other plant and animal species. Aspen, a beautiful hardwood tree with golden fall color, a key to ecosystem biodiversity and a hallmark feature of mountain areas across the West, has been the focus of concern. Unlike willows, aspen are more easily killed or suppressed by browsing and have been the slowest to show any recovery. In some areas of the West, up to 90 percent of the aspen have disappeared. "When I first looked at these degraded ecosystems in the mid-1990s in Yellowstone, I had doubts we would ever be able to bring the aspen back," said Robert Beschta, a professor emeritus of forestry at OSU and co-author on the study. "There were so many elk, and the stream ecosystems were in such poor shape. The level of recovery we're seeing is very encouraging." The OSU researchers say they believe there are two forces at work -- both the lower populations of elk, and their changed behavior due to fear of wolves -- but it's difficult to determine exactly which force is the most significant. Of note, they say, is that elk populations now are actually higher than they were in the mid-1960s, when aspen trees were still in significant decline. The major change from that period of time is the presence of wolves. The effect of behavioral changes "may be equal to or even greater than" lower elk population levels in allowing tree survival, the researchers said in their report.
— Science Daily, July 31, 2007
It seems we are making progress here and Extirpation is the sticking point. Interestingly, Gavin believes: "extirpation" is problematical: whilst it is a term that can be applied to the wolves in Yellowstone, it is such an unusual turn of phrase that only better quality coverage can justify its use, because there is no reason to use such a term that requires a definition when a simpler one that does not and is more widely used (such as control) will do.. The flaw in this opinion, is that nothing is simpler than the construct of extirpation. WP has an article on it, and that article is linked to 100s of other articles. It is a precise term, unambiguous, and leaving no doubt as to its meaning. That it can be applied to the chronology of wolves in yellowstone is undisputable. This is just one such source River channel dynamics following extirpation of wolves in northwestern Yellowstone National Park, USA that relates the construct of Extirpation to wolves in Yellowstone. Although the number of sources available to support this construct is not infinite, the number of sources that would offer an alternate interpretation are next to zero. If we are quibling over the dates during which extirpation occured, OK, we can go with the scientific consensus (1926) or another date if the predominant number of sources favor a different date. If we are quibling over whether or not official and unofficial predator control and eradication programs contributed to the extirpation of wolves in Yellowstone, I don't think anyone will say the wolves left town on their own accord. Extirpation is a condition and as of 1926, sources say wolves were extirpated from Yellowstone. This is a history article. It describes, in some semblance of chronology the historical events related to and conditions of wolves as a species in Yellowstone National Park from its creation (1872) to the present. The term Extirpation is a valid, and well sourced term, describing the condition of wolves in Yellowstone as of 1926. It may be an unusual turn of phrase in Middlesex but in the world of Yellowstone, Wolf management and endangered species, there is nothing unusual about it.-- Mike Cline ( talk) 01:28, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
This link available here from a reliable source states the following.....
See also the Wikipedia article on Local extinction...-- MONGO 01:45, 11 July 2010 (UTC)
The article is currently at 36,018 bytes, and the lead could use a major expansion. Please help. Viriditas ( talk) 21:44, 9 July 2010 (UTC)
See "Is the Wolf a Real American Hero?" opinion in The New York Times by Arthur Middleton March 9, 2014 User:Fred Bauder Talk 09:02, 10 March 2014 (UTC)
Here is another article with quotes from several biologists and links to studies casting doubt on the "trophic cascde" myth. RampagingCarrot ( talk) 13:11, 26 September 2022 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
I have just modified one external link on History of wolves in Yellowstone. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
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After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than
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have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the
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(last update: 5 June 2024).
Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot ( Report bug) 18:15, 3 April 2017 (UTC)
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 28 March 2022 and 30 May 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Peer reviewers: Blibraty.
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 8 January 2024 and 20 April 2024. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Noastorm ( article contribs).
— Assignment last updated by Warmedforbs ( talk) 01:27, 18 April 2024 (UTC)