Natural History Wanderings

Philaplace reported

For decades, young trees struggled to grow in Yellowstone National Park. But thanks to the reintroduction of gray wolves in 1995, a new generation of quaking aspens is finally making its way into the forest canopy — a milestone unseen in the northern Yellowstone range for nearly 80 years.

The story of Yellowstone’s forests is a testament to how apex predators can shape entire ecosystems. After disappearing in 1930 due to habitat loss, hunting, and government eradication programs, gray wolves left behind a park dominated by elk. With populations reaching roughly 18,000, these herbivores devoured shrubs, leaves, and even the bark of young trees like the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), preventing new growth from establishing.

Read more  Yellowstone wolves make a comeback, sparking aspen growth not seen in 80 years – Philaplace