Large carnivores like wolves play a vital role in maintaining native biodiversity through trophic cascades. After wolves were removed from Yellowstone in the 1920s, elk populations increased unchecked, leading to overbrowsing of woody plants and disruption of riparian areas and beaver populations. The reintroduction of wolves in 1995 provided an opportunity to study how predator-prey dynamics influence broader ecosystems. Findings show that both the risk of predation and actual predator presence can reshape herbivore behavior, allowing vegetation to recover and supporting the return of species like beavers. These cascading effects strengthen food webs and promote ecological balance. This underscores the importance of predators in healthy ecosystems and the role of science-based wildlife management—including regulated hunting—in supporting biodiversity. Further research is needed to fully understand how predators influence ecosystems through both lethal and nonlethal effects, guiding future conservation and land-use decisions.
