In 1995, 14 wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park.
No one expected the miracle that the wolves would bring.
It started with the wolves hunting the deer, this led to a rapid decrease in the deer population. The wolves' presence also made the deer avoid parts in the park where they were and easy prey.
Thanks to the deer's absence, those parts started to regenerate. Forests of aspen and willow trees started to flourish.
That's when things really started to happen. With trees and bushes came more berries and bugs. As soon as that happened, various bird species started moving in.
With the increasing tree population, also another species was attracted. The beaver, previously extinct in the region, moved back. And the dams they built provided habitats for otters, muskrats and reptiles.
The wolves also killed coyotes, which meant more hawks, red foxes, badgers and weasels in the park. Even the population of bald eagles and ravens rose.
But here's where it gets really interesting. The wolves changed the behavior of the rivers. With more balance between predator and prey came the possibility for other species to thrive. There was less erosion because of increased vegetation. And the river banks were stabilized, the channels narrowed, more pools formed, and the rivers stayed more fixed in their courses.
So the wolves did not only transform the great ecosystem of Yellowstone, they also changed the park's physical geography.
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A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hazardous materials into the rushing water below. The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services said. Officials shut down drinking water...
Witnesses report seeing globs of asphalt binder that spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River during a bridge collapse and train derailment on islands and the riverbanks a week after the spill.
A train derailment and bridge collapse sent eight rail cars into the #Yellowstone River near Big Timber, #Montana Saturday morning. There is a possible chemical spill and downstream #water users, including irrigation districts and the city of #Billings, are closing head gates.
I posted about Grizzly 610 in Grand Teton Nation Park la couple of weeks stating that her mom Grizzly 399 had not yet been spotted. Well, that all changed last week when she AND a new cub emerged from Hibernation much to the delight of bear watchers everywhere.
What you are seeing in this image is the runoff waters of Whirligig geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone.
From the informational sign you learn that there are thermophiles, microorganisms, that thrive in heat. The different colors are based on the degree of heat and that is what is referred to as the living thermometer.
Per NPS: "The incident occurred on the West Entrance Road near the Seven Mile Bridge, located 7 miles east of the park’s West Entrance.
Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg. They located the suspect's vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana." #touron#yellowstone#bison
Located in the Mammoth Springs area of Yellowstone National Park you will find many terraced formations which are much different than the other thermal areas in the park. This shot is of the top level of Palette Springs with the hot water overflowing to terraces below. I've visited Yellowstone 3 different times over the years and always fascinated.
Freight train carrying hot asphalt, molten sulfur plunges into the Yellowstone River as bridge fails (news.yahoo.com)
A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hazardous materials into the rushing water below. The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services said. Officials shut down drinking water...
Cleanup begins after asphalt binder spill into Montana's Yellowstone River after train derailment (apnews.com)
Witnesses report seeing globs of asphalt binder that spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River during a bridge collapse and train derailment on islands and the riverbanks a week after the spill.