Research Paper on Wolves (3rd)The gray wolf is the largest member of the canine family. Their fur color varies from black to entirely white or graying. The gray wolf resembles a German shepherd because it is the ancestor of the domestic dog. (Basic Facts) They eat elk, caribou, moose and deer. Gray wolves hunt, travel and live in packs of 4 to 8 members on average. (Basic Facts) The gray wolf migrated from Asia to North America during the Rancholabrean period approximately 750,000 years ago. (Wikipedia) They then repopulated and inhabited much of North America. The first humans to associate and interact with gray wolves were Native Americans. (Thiel) They had a close relationship with animals and nature because they considered them important and sacred aspects of their lives. Some Native American tribes formed wolf clans. Myths about the origin of the wolf were popular in Native American culture. Most Native Americans considered wolves to be teachers because they had always been a spiritual guide to them. (Thiel) Native Americans used wolves as a model for hunting other animals. When the first European settlers arrived in North America in 1608, interaction with wolves was imminent. Before European colonization, approximately 200,000 wolves lived in North America. (THE WOLF). The agriculture of early settlers wiped out most of the wolves' food supplies in the West. Wolves were pressured to find food and turned instead to domestic livestock (US). This led to the first conflicts between wolves and humans. Wolves were subsequently hunted throughout North America. Wolves have been depicted in drawings and literature since the colonization of North America. This has caused species such as the "Big Bad Wolf", Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little P...... middle of paper ......ng to have a bad reputation in the ecosystem. This would help build a better society and a friendlier environment in the Northern Rockies. The gray wolf is an American animal that must be protected by the federal government. Wolves are an asset to American life. The wolf is a species that characterizes American society. The wolf is a symbolic species for Americans. The wolf relies on teamwork when traveling in packs, but can also be independent. Wolves are great hunters and exert dominance over their prey. Wolves are amazing creatures that should be admired rather than despised. Wolves may seem like the ideal American. Wolves are intelligent creatures that were part of North America before Westerners arrived. The benefits of the ecosystem and the symbolic effect it has on our future generations is the main reason why wolves should be protected and build a population in the Northern Rockies..