How Wolves Change Rivers [REMASTERED HD] - George Monbiot

Embark on a journey to Yellowstone, where a few wolves did not just roam, but rewrote the rules of an entire ecosystem. Discover how these majestic predators triggered a cascade of life, transforming not only the park's wildlife but its very rivers and landscapes. It's a story of how nature's architects can reshape our world in ways we never imagined.
This video went viral nearly 10 years ago and has been used in countless classrooms and museums around the world to teach people the value that every species brings to an ecosystem. We decided to update the video using HD footage. Re-experience the magic of wolves!
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0:00 - What is a trophic cascade?
0:45 - Conditions of Yellowstone National Park before reintroduction
1:01 - How wolves changed behavior of animals in the park
1:26 - How the changed behavior helped nature to regenerate
2:43 - How wolves change the course of the rivers
Transcript:
One of the most exciting scientific findings of the past half-century has been the discovery of widespread trophic cascades. Atrophic cascade is an ecological process that starts at the top of the food chain and tumbles all the way down to the bottom.
And the classic example is what happened in the Yellowstone National Park in the United States when wolves were reintroduced in 1995. Now, we - we all know that wolves kill various species of animals, but perhaps we’re slightly less aware that they give life to many others. Before the wolves turned up - they’d been absent for 70 years - the numbers of deer (because there had been nothing to hunt them) had built up and built up in the Yellowstone Park and despite efforts by humans to control them they’d managed to reduce much the vegetation there to almost nothing. They had just grazed it away.
But as soon as the wolves arrived, even though they were few in number they started to have the most remarkable effects.
#HowWolvesChangeRivers #YellowstoneNationalPark #TrophicCascades
Keep reading: www.sustainablehuman.org/stor...

[@SustainableHuman]

Check out the official landing page for this video for more information: sustainablehuman.org/stories/how-wolves-change-rivers/

[@blucat4]

You have a typo in the description. " .. more interconnected and co-dependent that we imagined." It should be, 'than'. I will delete this comment after you have replied that you have fixed it. A comment of much praise to follow soon .. :-)

[@jackson4404]

My husband, Ralph Maughan, was a major player in Yellowstone wolf recovery as president of the Wolf Recovery Foundation.

[@vanessavanity12]

Send him our gratitude!

[@prestonphelps3089]

The farmers and ranchers don't thank him

[@randyeduo]

great job

[@exxactly2573]

@@prestonphelps3089 That's a tricky balance. I can certainly see where you're coming from, but ultimately the ecosystem's overall health improved with an increase in wolves. Farmers will just have to adjust.

[@hazzardoutdoors]

This is still one of my favourite wildlife stories

[@nolanmcleod2619]

MY favourite. Its such a wonder, the natural machines, we have working all around us.

[@jackson4404]

A major factor in ecosystems recovery is getting cows off our public land.

[@hazzardoutdoors]

@Jackson no the major factor is humans, how many in number we are, the cows are just to help feed our ever increasing numbers.

[@vickitri5712]

Amazing!! Those that detest the wolf should watch this.

[@jackson4404]

Ranchers and some hunters dislike them.

[@danielwalker26]

I could listen to this man talk all day. The passion in his voice is just amazing.

[@johnburns4017]

George Monbiot did a TED lecture in England. This narration was just a part of it. Americans liked it so much they took George's comments from the lecture, then put pictures to it. *Great one George.* Kudos to those who put pictures to it.

[@jackson4404]

And to the people, the Wolf Recovery Foundation, who made it happen!

[@stevetuso]

i never get tired of watching this; i must have watched at least a dozen times. i just think it's absolutely fascinating!

[@vanessavanity12]

Same! I remember watching it several times since it’s release 7 years ago

[@EdgarTheOgre]

I watch this video when I'm feeling blue. It never fails to cheer me up.

[@MysticalDragon73]

This is AWESOME. I work with a non profit clearing downed trees from waterways. Part of our focus is restoration and creating habitat. Even before you got to mentioning how the wolves affected rivers, I was thinking oh wow that plant life etc would make the rivers healthier and less erosion. Dirt erosion is the largest polluter to our waterways. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Gity444]

FASCINATING! Worked in the park in 99,seeing the wolves was the best part of my time there

[@Sandra-uf5rb]

The same thing happened when sea otters were reintroduced into the British Columbia s west coast. The ocean floor had turned into desert due to the proliferation of sea urchins. The sea otters cleaned out the urchins, which allowed kelp forests to regenerate, which is the habitat of many other species.

[@ayoungethan]

Trophic cascade ecology is such an important part of the theory of ecological regeneration and regenerative land management. This is a great summary video demonstration of that. One point of clarification: the herbivores do not outright avoid those riparian areas (which would result in over-rest), but rather stopped chronically hanging out in and overgrazing them. In effect, the presence of wolves gives the herbivores' resource base a chance to recover and regenerate between periodic episodes of acute disturbance. Many livestock managers use this same principle to repair rather than destroy riparian areas.

[@CryptoRoast_0]

Ooo. An updated version of one of my favourite videos on youtube :)

[@loosenatural8171]

Beautiful. Simple. Real. Amazing.

[@mortalclown3812]

George, thank you. Not just because you're both British, but Sir Attenborough's legacy needs to be carried on... and the BBC has even decided not to air a very important recent account on climate emergency so that they won't upset the right. It's the opposite of fake news, too. Please keep producing these brilliant, necessary reports. Thank you

[@TybudX]

Lots of people think deer are terrible at life, like they just run out into traffis all the time, but where I live the deer rarely get hit any more. They've also learned to stay inside certain areas during hunting season and move around outside those areas when people don't hunt.

[@TMech-hk9hh]

People give them unnecessary hate here in Ohio too. Meanwhile we are converting evert piece of small town forest and rural country side into ugly, cookie cutter houses. They re just trying to find a place to live. People have zero empathy for them.

[@wayyninho]

This has been my favorite youtube video for some years now, so thank you very very much for this remaster. Also, thanks for the portuguese subtitles so I can force all my friends to watch it... ...again.

[@splash6813]

bro wdym " for some years now" like bruh this video came out this year stop lying we all know u want a like so you lie trying to sound like a passionate video.

[@nivision]

@@splash6813 this is the remaster as noted in the title, smartass-- the original version posted by this same channel has been up for over six years.

[@kianaavant6052]

@@splash6813 They were referring to the original video which came out in 2014. It said the same information. This video is just remastered.

[@splash6813]

@@kianaavant6052 alright

[@Av1dd]

@@splash6813 hahahaha

[@PhillipNeumeier]

This is making me excited for my trip to Yellowstone in September

[@sharksuckerr6200]

A great story. Although, this clip would have been greater if if the footage shown align with the narration. For example, 2:05 cormorant not duck 2:17 Turkey Vulture not hawk 2:18 ground squirrel not weasel And 2:20 shows a European Badger which certainly does not occur in Yellowstone

[@annettevanstaden2802]

I’ve just been forwarded one of your videos and couldn’t subscribe quick enough 💫👌🏼

[@caroldudgeon50s]

I love this story! Wonderful to see the benefits of re-introducing these beautiful creatures back into their habitat.

[@Ma_Zhongying]

My god, the rivers quintupled.

[@Daniel-se3zm]

Amazing documentary, keep it up!

[@patrickhollywood93]

I just love your content!!

[@swapnadeepd7363]

Loved the story❤

[@phillippeacock7255]

Beautiful landscape at 3:26-7. My mental picture of the Elysian Fields (Heaven) of history.

[@LilEmoMoon]

I got an assignment for this and one of the questions are "Give TWO examples of the interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere in the video" like what the hell am I suppose to do-

[@jrye5]

Badger shown is a European badger, not the American Badger. I still love this video.

[@leonardowynnwidodo9704]

Why am I listening to a young Sir David Attenborough? It really turns on my curiosity to this video

[@tylerhill4632]

I really like it and it is really amazing

[@raygrange7312]

Wonderful.

[@brrumbor6062]

Kiitos ekologia 🙏

[@sarahjones8396]

That is really interesting!

[@goldfishghosts1919]

"more hawks and weasels" *shows a vulture and a prairie dog*

[@daletwoalways]

Ironically, the same thing happens if people are not f'ing things up.....

[@user-hj6bb7qm9r]

Interesting natural 🌎 facts. 🐺

[@butchncasey]

Love this

[@janellespangler3931]

Wow! This is incredible. My Lord and Savior sure knows what He's doing ❤❤ I am in constant awe of His creation.

[@heysupbehappy7153]

Humans artificially added the wolves to the ecosystem that started this reaction.

[@Zaloomination]

@@heysupbehappy7153 Humans added the wolves to restore the natural balance that God instituted. The sensitive balance of nature. It's all his idea and his creation.

[@lovely7840]

When the deer where here, we said "dear oh deer, are any wolves near"? But when the wolves wolfed down the deer, they made it clear to the deer that the deer should steer clear of the brier!

[@Kamadev888]

Haha! Good one!

[@blucat4]

Go outside! Now! :-)

[@harborwolf22]

I just want to hear 'similarly'

[@jakew1362]

I would think this would have some relevance to our internal microbial ecosystem. That adding in keystone bacteria and fungi could help those who have an imbalanced community in their gut and suffer symptoms because of it.

[@ryusorata]

This a very very beautiful story! Really moving.

[@Jayll1984]

Will beavers get their own video sometime? They are very important too for an ecosystem no? They bring life too

[@rickygarcha1311]

Fascinating to watch but I don’t trust myself to explain it lolll

[@neepers]

showing this to my students in China :)

[@TyuHeyheyhey]

Always was my favorite predator.

[@MarsFKA]

We bring you this very interesting video, that actually teaches us something about or natural world, but, first, a message from our sponsor. Screw you, KZbin.

[@erinromero6684]

I had hoped this remastered version would just be a higher quality version of the original video, but instead it's got a ton of inaccurate footage - video of a ground squirrel where there should be a weasel, a European badger instead of an American one, videos of deer that are not native to the US, etc. It's also disappointing that so much footage was centered around deer, because the wolves actually impacted elk the most in the park (the narrator says "deer" because he's British, but the actual animal he's referring to is elk). I think I'll stick with the old version!

[@luciopicciano5153]

I saw that also. 2:38 those are dama dama not found in the US.

[@sarahtabor7739]

The weeping willow 🙄

[@Sandy_Rosenthal]

Good wolf!

[@ThankyouJesus81]

Ummm hello how do I watch the full version!

[@noahvettel1296]

WOLVES BACK

[@karhleencowens3076]

Isn't that "hawk" a Turkey Vulture making the sound of a Red-tailed Hawk? ;)

[@user-bl2sr9dv8b]

Dear Sustainable Human - You updated your video, but you did not update its scientific information. Please realize that the information in your updated video is not based on current scientific knowledge about the ecological effects of the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction. A useful introduction to what has been learned since the original version of your video is the recent book Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World's First National Park (2020; University of Chicago Press). I urge you to provide the public with a video grounded in the best available information. Sincerely, Dan MacNulty, Associate Professor, Utah State University

[@elandashing1814]

Seems like a very tenuous line of reasoning. Makes a great story though.

[@TychoBrahe]

Longitudinal study challenges the conclusions of this video. For more information, check out the CSU Yellowstone wolves study.

[@danielpearl5153]

What would have happened if deer hunting was permitted? Wouldn't you get the same benefits?

[@dinoboy8895]

56K views and before 56 comments

[@lanefountain2055]

Bring lions to the UK! 😂

[@NaMe-ku4cl]

Reindeers and other hoof animals (cows, horses, ect.) that are managed properly are also great for the environment. Read "The Reindeer Chronicles" by Judith Schwartz or listen to Allan Savory! 🐘🐂🦌🦓🐎

[@nanthawatkridakorn9015]

Why did the wolves disappear in the first place?

[@wuurm]

“Much of the wolves' prey base was destroyed as agriculture flourished. With the prey base removed, wolves began to prey on domestic stock, which resulted in humans eliminating wolves from most of their historical range. Predator control, including poisoning, was practiced in the park in the late 1800s and early 1900s.” -national park service

[@sub7se7en]

This is a great reminder. We may only see a small piece of what's going on, but Allah sees the full picture, and in his wisdom, has set a balance. We need to endeavor not to disrupt this balance and also recognize that we may not understand the full ramifications of what goes on in our lives. We may perceive something one way, but the repercussions of that may be far reaching.

[@fuck_youtube_handles]

thats fucking mad

[@user-fq5kg6gk1g]

America 🇺🇸 is a Beautiful Country 🐺🏜️🏔️🏕️

[@darrellhayward6673]

For of right on gotta like that y3

[@santiag0106]

Comment for the algo

[@dianepeters8685]

I am lucky to have watched the full documentary on this before the Smithsonian got its grubby hand on it.

[@bogee647]

They left out something key. The presence of the wolves made grazing animals bunch together and keep moving for safety from the wolves. So grazing animals all feed in one area and then move...this helps the grass because grass can't eliminate its older dried up growth, the way a tree does when it sheds its leaves. The tree sheds its leaves allowing the sun to get at the tree's growth points so the tree will bud and bloom in the next growth cycle. Grass cant do this..grass needs grazing animals to do this for it. But those grazing animals need to graze all together in an area and then move on. That does a good job of preventing overgrown grass that will dry up and block the sun from getting at the new growth of the grass...then the animals move on allowing the new growth to happen in that area. The grazing animals poop feeds the soil the grass is growing in and their feet trampling the ground mixes the poop into the soil and aerates the soil. All the animals do their part to preserve the grassland ecosystem.

[@thirstywolf8720]

hype

[@Mercie22]

... ~ ... Te, Si, ... --Shadowed-- Ti, Se, ... ...lf fl... ..., Din

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

Lol what a load of bs .

[@RonHudgens-ck5qe]

Wolves did not change the river! The Beavers did . .stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nalliug23]

You're smarter than scientists?

[@pocatellocowboy1077]

I am absolutely stunned by how many people have fallen for this fallacious video. It should set up an instant alarm when the people making the video often have no clue what animal species they are showing in their footage, while calling them other names. They are showing massive herds of elk (calling them deer) that only ever existed around Yellowstone during two times of year, and that was when the herds gathered together to migrate into or out of the park with the changing seasons. I have spent the vast majority of my life in Yellowstone, and I can tell you all with surety that there is very little--almost none--of this video that has even the slightest base in truth. But by the other comments, I see that once again, that does not matter. Put it in video, put it on KZbin, and it simply MUST be true. Heaven help those who fall for this rubbish.