Monday, September 13, 2010

Introducing or Re-introducing Predators



Once a predator is out of its natural habitat should we as humans make efforts to bring them back. On one hand it could offset the new ecosystem or it might bring an ecosystem to its original state. Above are images of the Wolf re-introduced to Yellowstone and the Scottish Wildcat whose numbers declined to the point where we as humans felt like we needed to intervene.

65 comments:

  1. I believe we should make any and all measures to repopulate the Wildcat and Wolfs as long as they are being observed to insure that they dont over populate and dont offset the new ecosystem.


    -Samantha Nielsen

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  2. If the animal is no longer present in the system or has offset the system then change should be made, reintroducing an animal is a good thing, but if it offsets the rest of the system, then you have to help fix it. In my own personal opinion I think we, as humans, should stay out of the effects of nature, seeing as how we have already messed it up enough.

    -Hillary D. per7

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  3. I would like to have more information before really answering this because all you've given us is that we need to choose between re-introducing the animal or not. I would like to know information like it's prey and if it has any predator's or not. With the information only given here I'm going to have to say no. Because I can't tell if there is a reason to bring it back or if it's just for looks. Perhaps an over-population of it's prey but I don't know so no.
    Ryan Sigars, Period 4.

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  4. well um it really depends if they should introduce or re introduce animals and stuff. if its goin to help the rest of the forest and stuff. like it could just be a big problem to the rest of all the species, out there. um so if it is a good thing for the other animals and plants and stuff ya its a good thing but if its gunna harm stuff then no. ha i dont really know what im talkin bout :) shareen zuspan P.7

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  5. Danielle Wigen, Per. 4September 13, 2010 at 6:36 PM

    I believe that if it's going to help save the Wildcats and the Wolves then by all means bring them back. However if it's going to interfere with the numbers of their prey a lot more then their numbers, then I say don't reintroduce the predators.

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  6. I honestly believe that it all depends upon the circumstances for each particular animal and their select attributes, as well as the attributes of the ecosystem within which they live. For example if the numbers of a certain species are waning then it may be neccesary for the well being of the animal to remove it from its environment until the numbers of animals have grown to a healthy level then slowly reintroduce the species back into its original habitat.

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  7. I agree that humans should intervein to repopulate animals that are decreasing to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

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  8. Obviously both are predators and if they don't bring them back then the prey will over populate and things that they eat like grass and stuff will go out... It all depends on what you want to save... I think that to have a healthy organized ecosystem you need to have levels of predation. My vote is bring them back.
    Ellie Honzel per. 7

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  9. Katelyn Katchmar Per.7September 13, 2010 at 7:28 PM

    I think we should intervein to repopulate animals that are becoming exstinct. We cant just let animals slowly die off. On the other hand as we get involved we must keep an eye on things to make sure the balance dosent tip and we have others becoming exstinct because of us repopulating another species.

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  10. Brooke Reifel Period 4September 13, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    I believe that species go extinct or near extinct for a reason, sometimes because of natural selection, sometimes because of other causes such as hunting or natural disasters. That being said, ecosystems are very delicate and need to have a balance. If the conditions are right and the scientists are almost certain it will benefit the ecosystem of that area then yes, we should reintroduce that animal. But, if it is going to risk extinction of another species or harm the ecosystem then no, there was a reason and we need to let nature run its course, unless it's in serious need of our help.

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  11. I think that people should intervene, because if they don't repopulate animals that are decreasing, we won't be able to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

    -Mariah Carson

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  12. In my opinion the only time people should intervein with natural selection is for example, if over hunting or a human caused incident were to cause the near extinction of a species. In that case helping a species reproduce then reintroducing it into the wild would be the correct thing to do. However, if lions suddenly got the munchies and started powering down all of the zebras, i believe that people should stay out of it. In other words... if we don't cause it, we shouldn't fix it.

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  13. My opinion is that they should re intro the animals in yellow park because we can have more of that animal. Or to the pop. down. Give a word

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  14. In my opinion the wolves should be re-introduced. It's our fault the wolves were dying out in that area, and if they were there in the first place than obviously they should be there. We do have a responsibility to regulate them and make sure they aren't getting out of hand. I think in cases were it isn't the human's fault that the species is dying out than it's nature's course and we shouldn't intervene.

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  15. I think to reintroduce animals in differnt homes or biomes can be both good and bad. If the situation would help save a spieces and that spieces is from a differnt area but with the same surroundings then it should be ok. Unlike if the spiecies is totally new and we really know nothing about it and what could happen to the ecosystem, then leave it alone.

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  16. I'd say that if humans are the reason the predator has died off,and its absence is having a negative affect on the ecosystem, then we should by all means reintroduce it. If the predator just died off naturally and it doesn't drastically change the ecosystem, I'd say we should just leave it alone.

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  17. Shaydawn Hayden Per.4September 14, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    I would say that if the animal not being in its original habitat effect the ecosystem then we should just leave it be, but if their was change we should reintroduce it.

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  18. Part of me thinks that Its neccessary to relocate the animal to
    it's habitat because it belongs there and we don't want it extinct. But, at the same time, it's nature. Should it really be messed with? Or should we as humans let it run itself? There's a point when it's ok to
    intervene, but I think the human race becomes too involved at some points in this situation.
    Laiken Coulter per.7

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  19. Taylor Werner, SNOOKI :)September 14, 2010 at 8:41 PM

    I personally think that nature does what it needs to do, and if the animals go somewhere else, then let them. I don't think we should interfere with that. In some cases i think it would be okay, with the wildcats for instance.

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  20. Kody Kuhlman, Period. 1September 14, 2010 at 9:01 PM

    I think that re-introducing the animals would be good because for one it would bring back an animal people may not know and two it could help the enviroment that it lives in by keeping it's prey from over population.

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  21. I think they were unable to survive on their own so we shouldnt take part in the balance of things and just let it play out and not interfere.

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  22. Lucas Morgan, per. 1

    I think that if the given predators decline is due to human interference then it is our job to insure that that predator is re-introduced into the its appropriate ecosystem as to prevent a destructive imbalance. if the given predators decline is of natural causes than the ecosystem needs to be further researched as to determine why the species has declined and the pros and cons of said recession.

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  23. Justin Willhite per. 1September 15, 2010 at 3:03 PM

    I think we should not interfere unless the species is down to a VERY low number. If the numbers are dropping or at a steady low than usual theres a reason why. The habitat cant handle this animal right now and over time the habitat will probably regain the animals resources once again and everything will be normal. This may take several years, but humans shouldnt panic.

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  24. I think that nature will take its course eventually. Reintroducing these animals effects the environment greatly. The wolves will impact the population of deer elk and all the other animals they prey on. I also think we should stay out of the way of nature and see what happens. Unless the population of a species gets to where it could go extinct, i don't think we should get in natures way.

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  25. I think people shouldn’t intervene, because there is a reason certain animals have gone extinct. We should just let nature do its own thing. The only time we should intervene is when we are the ones causing the animals to go extinct.

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  26. i think that we should not re-introduse the wolfs. obvesly they could not servive on there on so why should we as humans put them back to where they will not servive again

    -Ashley Cline

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  27. If its not human caused then we shouldn't interfer with mother nature. There are alot of cases though that the animals are dieing because of us and then its our responsibility to bring them back to there orignal numbers.

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  28. Kelsey Alexander, Period 7September 15, 2010 at 7:47 PM

    I believe that only if they are out of the habitat because of humans then we should put them back, but if they're gone because their environment wasn't sufficient for their living then it is not our place to interfear with nature. Obviously if we put them back then they're going to disapear again.

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  29. I believe that the wolves should be reintroduced back into Yellow Stone. But the people in charge need to be aware and act upon the cause for their extinction there. It would be beneficial because the wolves keep other animals there from over-populating and therefore suffering from starvation.

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  30. I believe that us as humans have a choice to step in, but if naturally the animal is whiped out I dont think we should interven because its natures course. But if it is our doing that a spices is being eliminated then humans should step in and do something. Also if an animal is interduced that's not native to an area then we schould dosomething to get rid of it like asian carp in the great lakes. Collin Bocchi

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  31. I think that the wolves should be reinteroduced only if it doesnt harm the other species living in the area or the wolves become over populated

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  32. It's obvious that they are both predators and that we need them. If these predators become extinct then their prey will become over populated. If that ever happened it would be up to the humans to hunt the prey. So basically I think both predators should be reintroduced back into Yellowstone.

    -Carena Lyons Period 4

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  33. If trought time we as humans have brought wolves and big wild cats almost to the brink of extinction in the wildness then its our reponsability as humans to reintroduce them back into their natural and usual habitat, because this will help the wildness in the short and long run, For example reintroducing wolves back into the Yellowstone has helped keep the deer populations in a healthy and stable number for the wildness. VICTOR RIOS Per. 1

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  34. I dont think people should reintroduce the species because it could harm the environment and species that have adapted due to their loss in numbers.

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  35. I think that the two species had been falling in numbers due to the darwin theory. The strong and smart have increased in numbers and the weak and dumb have decreased. Us as humans might have a part in their extinction, but if nature wants to keep them then they will adapt and come back.

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  36. Matt Burk
    I feel that we as humans should not intervine in the natural selection of the ecosystem. I think that if we intervine in the ecosystem to much we will offset a very important balance that could lead to other species extinction by creating to many predators or not enough prey. In a nutshell i think that it all happens for a reason and we should stay out of it.

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  37. I say we let nature do its thing. If a decrease is caused by humans, it should be stopped, but if its all natures goings then let it be. If nature seams to be leaning to one side(predator, prey) then let it do its thing. You don't see wolfs or Scottish wildcats trying to get rid of us....then again maybe you do.

    Caymen Graham

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  38. I'm not sure which way to go. I would say yes, help them out and repopulate their species. Then again I'd say, let nature do its thing and if they happen to die out they die out. We can't always step in to help other things when we ourselves are in trouble. So I think it can go both ways if it needed to be.

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  39. Emily Pariera,
    I believe that etinction happens for a reason, and while some people say that we should let it take it's course I believe that we should help the species so they're not completely gone from our planet. It may affect other species where the animal is released back into the environment, but i believe it's better to save an animal no matter the consequences.

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  40. I don't believe we should take action because nature has already decided that these animals should be extinct.

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  41. i don't think we should introduce species back into the wild because it will throw off the ecosystem and it will make all the prey/predator relationships different so a lot more abundant species will decline.

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  42. There are a few things we must ask ourselves before answering this question. First, are we as humans responsible for the disappearance of an animal from it's natural habitat? In all likelihood the answer is yes. This, in my opinion, is the most important factor in determining whether or not a species should be introduced.

    In the case that we are to blame for the creature's disappearance, I strongly believe we bear the responsibility to re-introduce the species. My reason being that we (humans) are not an agent of natural selection. We are sentient, something that has never existed in the 4 billion year existence of life. We have altered the planet like no life form before us. To say that whatever we do is fate and a part of natural selection is folly, due to one error in thinking: Nature does not have a plan. It does not consciously choose what aught to survive or perish.

    This way of thinking may be a tie-over from our religious conceptions of pre-destination and God's Plan. however, this particular concept does not mesh well with the scientific reality.

    I have no worries about how a re-introduced species would affect it's former habitat. After all, it lived there for millions of years before disappearing for only a few. The habitat will not have changed so utterly that a creature's reappearance would cause catastrophe. Evolution does not work so quickly. Furthermore, nature is very good at finding equilibrium, and would within decades return to something of it's previous state. Perhaps we have such a fear that they (nature) could not reach equilibrium because we have such trouble doing it ourselves?

    In short (ha!), I am most certainly for the re-introduction of species to their former habitat.

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  43. I feel that we should re-introduce species only if humans are the reason they are no longer in that habitat. I don't believe humans should dictate natural selection in any way. However, if we were to re-introduce and repopulate, I feel we should watch and regulate the species. Otherwise, lets let nature do its thing.

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  44. I feel it was a good thing to reintoduce the wolves back into Yellow stone. It keeps the natural flow of life going so that one species doesnt become over populated. Over time nature will find balance inside of Yellow stone.

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  45. I Think we should let nature take its course and not re-intoduce the animals and risk the interfernce with the ecosystem if its meant to nature will work it out on its own.

    Dj Calarruda Pd 1

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  46. austin crawford per.4September 19, 2010 at 7:47 PM

    I think that if the predators have been out of the ecosystem for a long period of time it would be wrong to bring them back because the ecosystem will have re-adjusted, but if it was just recently i would put them back in so there arent any near future ecosytem dissastors.

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  47. While browsing the World Wide Web about my favorite predator-prey relations, i stumbled across this great blog question. As a well known blogger, i beleive that my opinion means more than anybody else's. And so i shall give it. I beleive that humans should never re introduce animals into a wild environment, because it will off set the the way that environment has been. But, if there is a problem with the population due to human causes, such as hunting, i think we owe to ourselves to help re populate that environment. Thank you for this blog, i will keep checking this site for more great blog questions. Perhaps next week?

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  48. I think that if the animal died of naturally then we should just leave it alone, so it won't harm any other animal in the ecosystem.
    Dylan Steege Per1

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  49. well there is many ways you can look at this. You can say that it is the way it is supposed to be so we should not intervene, or you could say because we as humans are intruding on habitat and we need to fix what we caused. I personally believe that we should help animals so we can preserve them for our children and there children etc...

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  50. Scotland Mikkelsen. Per 1

    I think that if the animal had a natural leaving of the ecosystem and wasn't taken out or hunted that it should remain out of the area because animals will develop new hunting mechanisms.

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  51. Lolz I'm Blogging!!! :D

    <3 you Olsen!

    Jeffery H Wright!

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  52. I think we shouldn't because before people knew population numbers and whatnot they never re-introduced animals into habitats and that how animals have evolved and areas have evolved. Putting animals back into an environment where they have become extinct is like going against nature.

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  53. Personally I have two thoughts on the matter. First re-introducing predators to an environment helps over population of prey; it balances the ecosystem. Second nature needs to run its course. Period. With that said, I think our growing technolgy and knowledge helps us to understand what is best for every living organism. Therefore, if plenty of studies are done and re-introducing a species is good for everyone in the long run, then so be it.

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  54. i think that we should try to keep all species alive. we dont want any to become extinct but we also dont want too many of any. in our world it would be nice if there was a nice balance of all the different and interesting species,

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  55. No, because we should let nature take its course. It's not our job to intervene. Thousands of years ago animals did what they needed to do without the help of humans. By moving predators we would just be screwing up their way of life.

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  56. I dont think that we should, nature messed it's self up it should e able to fix it's self on it's own.

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  57. I think re-introducing the animals back to the habitat would not be a good idea. There is a reason why they didnt survive so if we bring in more then you would just kill those off as well.
    -Vanessa Holguin pd.1

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  58. I think that re-introducing animals back into the habitat has its good sides and bad sides as well. On one hand that animal will be back into their original habitat but on the other it could just completely mess up the current balance of species located in the area. For example if there is an abundance of Elk in a certain area and its only predator is a Cougar that eats only one every few week; and Wolves are re-introduced into that area and kills 4 Elk a week, it will both greatly affect the Elk in the area and the the Cougar population as well. So in my opinion re-introduction of animals is generally not a good idea.

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  59. This is an issue that can go both ways like said above. I think that it is very important that all things stay natural. Should that animal been taken out in the first place? No. But now the ecosystem has evolved without the animal so putting it back could be as harmful as taking it out. So put it back? No, don't make another mistake.

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  60. They are both predators, so if they extinct it would be up to us humans to hunt the prey.

    Julio Barajas Per. 1

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  61. I believe we should re-introduce the animals into there natural habitats depending on the animal. if the positives out weigh the negative than yes we should. but if the negatives out weigh the positive than we shouldnt. Also if the enviroment is doing better without that animal there then we shouldnt do it.

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  62. I believe that once animals have been captive by humans, they loose some instinctual things such as hunting skills because they usually have their food brought to him, bu also if we kept all the animals captive it may end up in a over populated situation.

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  63. I think that if a species dies off its probably for a reason but u also have to look at the impact we have on the original habitat that man kind could have screwed up....hard subject


    Coleton blair
    per: 4

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  64. If we can preserve a species, then why not? Honestly, natural selection is very important, but if we have what it takes to monitor and control a species from overpopulating then why shouldn't we? Sure, introduce them just as long as you can have control and the species doesn't go instinct altogether.

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  65. I believe that natural selection is very important, so the only time that it is important for us to intervene is if we as humans did something that lead to the endangerment of a species.

    Sierra Jamison p.1

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