How did the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park happen?

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gray wolf — wolf Gray wolf (*Canis lupus*).

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park occurred in 1995, marking a significant shift in conservation efforts for the gray wolf. Following centuries of persecution that had nearly eradicated the species from the contiguous United States, this initiative involved bringing wolves from Canada to restore the population in the park and parts of Idaho.1

This effort was part of a broader late 20th-century trend toward greater tolerance and legal protection for the species, which had previously been viewed primarily as a threat to livestock and big game. Today, the wolf is recognized as a vital component of the ecosystem, and such reintroduction programs have been instrumental in allowing their range to expand across portions of North America.1