Wolves are ecosystem engineers. Wolf reintroduction could be successful in the Adirondacks and contribute to restoring the Park to a more wild state. 

George Monbiot, in his influential presentation, “How Wolves Change Rivers,” explains wolves’ ability to change their ecosystems and environments. Monbiot specifically analyzes Yellowstone’s reintroduction program – but the concepts are universal. 

The same factors that determine much of the discourse in the Adirondack State Park shape conversations about wolf reintroduction. Disputed knowledge about animal behavior and “larger issues of property rights and the way people think about nature” (Enck & Brown) tend to shape opinions. A serious consideration of wolf reintroduction takes place within broader conversations about the State’s right to make conservation decisions with park-wide impacts. Wolves tend to manipulate large swaths of territory – in the fragmented park, their movements would likely take them beyond ‘wilderness’ land limits. Residential, agricultural, and manufacturing sectors within the park could be affected. A representative of the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) explained that a decision to reintroduce wolves would require an “‘awful lot of analysis and evaluation and public engagement,’” (Lynch) making wolf reintroduction a complicated task. The official defended the agency’s decision to abstain from consideration, citing staff shortages and focus on protecting organisms already in the park. (Lynch) 

Community views of wolf reintroduction may be more moderate than the DEC expects. Evidence suggests that park residents are receptive to the idea of wolf reintegration; a 2002 study found that 42% would be in favor of a wolf reintroduction program (Enck & Brown). Results were reflective of the general trend that “nearness of residents to a proposed restoration site” affects their willingness to consider wolf return, with 60.2% of state respondents in favor of restoration (Enck & Brown). Individuals further from restoration sites focus less on possible negative impacts. These data seem surprisingly favorable to wolves, given that only 50% of study respondents knew that they do not kill livestock and pets when they have access to abundant wildlife prey (Enck & Brown). There are an estimated 60,000-80,000 white-tailed deer in the Adirondack Park (Adirondacks Forever Wild) – an abundant food resource for wolves. This datum further suggests that an education campaign on the realities of wolves’ non-interference in society could improve willingness to consider reintegration.

While wildlife experts hope wolves may return to the Park (Lynch), data suggest that they could not make a natural return – reintegration would require human transport. The Park meets the habitat requirements and limitations determined by peer-reviewed study of wolves and their niche, and could potentially become a “core habitat” of Eastern Timber Wolves (Harrison & Chapin). However, it is isolated from other areas with wolves by Lake Champlain, the Saint Lawrence River, and expanses of agricultural and urban land. Wolves often die when they cross highways and move through non-wild lands and there are no suitable wildlife corridors between wolf populations in Canada or the (fledgling) Maine population and the Park (Harrison & Chapin; International Wolf Center).

The reintroduction of wolves to the Adirondack State Park could make the park wilder. Wolves roamed the park until 1900 (Harrison & Chapin); fostering the return of wolves would return the park to a more ‘natural’ state – closer to its condition pre-European settlement. Opinions on the desirability of that change depend on the relationship between individuals and the biological community. There are strong economic reasons to consider a reintroduction – tourists visit other parks specifically for the opportunity to see and hear wolves (Lynch) – along with a perceived moral and environmental obligation to preserve and remake ecosystems.

Any wolf return would be complex and require the agreement of and participation by numerous stakeholders with varying perspectives. Wolves may change rivers, but human communities and opinions may have to change first.

References

Enck, J. W., & Brown, T. L. (2002). New Yorkers’ Attitudes toward Restoring Wolves to the Adirondack Park. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006), 30(1), 16–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3784631

Harrison, D. J., & Chapin, T. G. (1998). Extent and Connectivity of Habitat for Wolves in Eastern North America. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006), 26(4), 767–775. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3783550

Lynch, M. (2015, March 16). Will Wolves Return To The Adirondacks? Adirondack Almanac. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2015/03/will-wolves-return-to-the-adirondacks.html

Maine at a glance. (2021). International Wolf Center. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://wolf.org/wow/united-states/maine/

Mammals of the Adirondacks: White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). (2021). Adirondacks Forever Wild. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-mammals-white-tailed-deer-odocoileus-virginianus.htmlMonbiot, G. (2014, February 13). How Wolves Change Rivers [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q