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Easton Bybee
Professor Tamara Neff
Biology 1615
6 April 2016

Effects of Wolves and Environmental Climate on Carrion in Yellowstone National Park

Introduction
For many years, the temperature of the Earth has been rising. Due to the rising temperatures, the
timing of winter snowfall has been changing in different areas around the globe. In 1995, biological
researchers decided to release a new amount of wolves into the area of Yellowstone National Park in an
attempt to balance out the ecosystem. They believe that after the reintroduction, the wolves will create
positive results on the environment by providing a balanced amount of carrion available to scavengers
during the winter months and after. They looked over 55 years of weather data in the Yellowstone area to
determine the patterns and trends in the weather conditions. Scientists recognize that the winters are
getting shorter and with that comes consequential effects on the ecosystem. They are working hard to
find buffers so they can combat these negative effects. Understanding the importance of why we need to
restore and maintain food products for species when change is occurring is very important. With this
knowledge, scientists build motivation to further seek what they can do to aide these individual species
and have balance in these environments.
Material and Methods
Biologists first gathered meteorological date from two different locations inside Yellowstone
National Park. Hot Springs and Tower Falls stations have been collecting weather data since 1948 and
sending it to the Climate Center in Reno, Nevada, USA making both of these locations prime collection
sites. They also collected information on species populations including wolves and elk throughout these
same years. Once the information was gathered they compared the climate and carrion supply statistics to

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find out how they corresponded. Using mathematical equations, they were able to calculate monthly
carrion availability before the wolf reintroduction in 1995 and after they were readmitted to the
environment.
Results
After calculations were complete they found that the average monthly snow depth has been
decreasing over the last 50 years meaning that the length of winters in Yellowstone were also decreasing.
The presence of wolves in Yellowstone significantly mitigates the reduction in late-winter carrion
expected under climate change. (Wimers and Getz. 572, 4) The scientists found that without the wolves
late winter carrion was reduced by 27% in March and 66% in April. However, with the wolves, they
found that there was a carrion reduction of only 4% in March and 11% in April. This shows that wolves
being reintroduced to the environment had strong positive results. The wolves helped kill more animals
so the scavengers could survive. The wolves also hunted animals such as fox and coyote which in turn
raised the levels of smaller rodents. In conclusion they found that although the winters were shortening
they could still balance out the ecosystem by using wolves to prolong the availability of winter carrion
available to scavengers in Yellowstone Park. The scientists were surprised to find that the climate change
could greatly affect how the environment works in harmony. They found that winter carrion not only has
a strong effect on the survival of scavengers but also the environment as a whole.
Discussion
They found that their hypothesis had been proven to be true. The results gave them evidence that
they could combat the negative effects of increasing temperature on the environment. Although the
wolves helped greatly to increase carrion supply, it is only a temporary solution. Midwinter snowfall
averages are decreasing which in turn allows elk a better chance of surviving the winter. As temperatures
rise quicker there is less need for elk to move to find new food. In turn the elk over populate in a certain
area and overgraze the landscape. They concur that the importance of wolves on an environment is

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crucial in understanding how predators balance out changing climate. They lastly believe that they can
further their studies by examining different climate locations around the world and viewing the effects of
other top predators and species.
Bibliography
Wilmers, Christopher C., and Wayne M. Getz. Gray Wolves as Climate Change Buffers in Yellowstone.
PLOS Biology: PLoS Biology, Apr. (2005) 571-576 Web.