How Wolves Change Rivers

Watch the newly released remastered version (in HD) ⟹
• How Wolves Change Rive...
When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in the United States after being absent nearly 70 years, the most remarkable "trophic cascade" occurred. What is a trophic cascade and how exactly do wolves change rivers? George Monbiot explains.
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TRANSCRIPT:
One of the most exciting scientific findings of the past half century has been the discovery of widespread trophic cascades. A trophic cascade is an ecological process which 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.
Keep reading: sustainablehuman.org/stories/how-wolves-change-rivers/#Transcript
#TrophicCascades #Wolves #GeorgeMonbiot

[@SustainableHuman]

Check out the remastered version of this video in HD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWmbhJSZqZaerdU

[@ThePallidor]

Note most importantly this is the REintroduction of wolves. They had been removed by a misguided intervention into a natural ecosystem, which was later undone, returning the ecosystem to its former richness and sophistication.

[@BoWeava]

*woof*

[@HUMANEXCELLENCE210]

Buahahahahahaha

[@nilsnorberg]

@@HUMANEXCELLENCE210 ?

[@karolinakuc4783]

Wolves rather avoid confrontion when they feel they don't have advantage in number. So when they hear a recording of a bigger pack than they they usually avoid areas where they hear howling of a bigger wolfpack

[@vegajahaziel]

We should add wolves to our government. To see how it changes.

[@JustForTheLuIz]

already full of wolves

[@Killmashine]

more like snakes

[@stefaniemedina14]

Then add some mad as hell mama bears to kill the wolves!

[@Phantom1op]

couldn't be any worse than the people already running the major world powers.

[@PuffyCraftOfficial]

Hopefully they kill everyone there.

[@emilyedieelizabeth]

Online learning: happens Science teachers making 42,000,000 people watch this video: *oh yeah, it’s all coming together*

[@jsmn12]

AHHAHAHAHA

[@WSStuff]

@@hey8133 nice

[@poop-bi4bc]

😭

[@ishmal.xoxo.]

Lol

[@jaxbailey2691]

Haha it was my geography teacher 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂🤣

[@Chillypapaya]

You know what? I’m glad my science teacher showed me this video. I learned a lot about the ecosystem.

[@rashmiunawatuna4795]

its my geo teacher for me

[@Oshawott347]

same

[@TinMan445]

I hope your teachers mentioned that there wasn’t a single deer in this video. They are all elk

[@creativeamerican8811]

@@TinMan445 Elk are Deer. He doesn’t say Red Deer or Reindeer, he says Deer which include A few different spiecies or subspecies.. I dunno. But I had a feeling Deer could be used like that , looked it up before commenting. You should have done the same. We all learned something though eh? X

[@historyisawesome]

same

[@mclee0905]

I remember a time when this comment section wasn't filled with people complaining about watching the video for online school, it was filled with people in awe with the world and nature :(

[@d.b.cooper5695]

Well said, it's sad in a way. I came back to this today after a few years and feel like there is no hope for humankind, even tho it is the youth replying

[@WhatAGuy]

With the introduction of an invasive species, Studenticus maximus, the ecosystem of the comment section was changed forever.

[@lgbtqiarights]

@@d.b.cooper5695 Maybe it will change. With younger generations learning about the horrible consequences of our actions, perhaps they will try to change that. Only the future can tell, but don’t lose hope yet.

[@Ahsannn]

I come back to this video for like umpteenth time, this video make you understand the value of life and everything connected to it. ♥️

[@jimjam8303]

@@WhatAGuy lmao

[@polderdebanjan]

this is just one example of how everything is inter-dependant.

[@shoaibaalam8978]

And we call it ecosystem..

[@BW-og1vu]

and we have nothing better to do than destroying it :-(((

[@skyj451]

@@BW-og1vu Yes because humans are op, we dominate everything.

[@BW-og1vu]

@@skyj451 And just because we are the dominant species, it is our responsibility.

[@randomguy-jo1vq]

Yet the scientists are trying to make mosquitoes extinct

[@ian9toes]

Wolves: We’re going to change this entire landscape. The deer population has left the chat.

[@bcabaron]

oh dear! lol

[@ian9toes]

z Thanks, I shall fix that right now.

[@kevinkeni932]

Ian9toes hahaha😂😂😂

[@mitchellstump6730]

@In All Honesty What the hell is a 30 ot 6? =P

[@milanmihajlovic8569]

Hahaha

[@stellarmorning8848]

People are saying they are here for online learning.... meanwhile this is probably my 20th rewatch in the past 4 years because I am obsessed with wolves......

[@jinjekang4300]

I can tell 😂

[@chunkyragu6525]

@@jinjekang4300 lol

[@aliac0178]

Me using this video for a pursuasive speech.

[@minemaster2146]

Yessir

[@johilker317]

I'm just obsessed with the story!

[@ahadraza2395]

Deer: avoid grazing in valleys and gorges Everything else: 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚

[@taiekvana]

yo, ima just migrate, n'.... hol up. that is one friggity-friggity FRESH valley ova' 'der. i'ma live der.

[@miguelmatos4759]

Nobody: Free real state meets woolfpack. English speaking online students: Wolves know it better. Go Wolverines!

[@The.dog.warrior]

Now I want to buy a wolf so he can organize my life.

[@garethifan1034]

Yea,,I want one as my personal trainer

[@-mwolf]

@@garethifan1034 My last name is wolf lol

[@abdulaleem6674]

😂😂

[@marshwetland3808]

Watch out, though. If he changes your physical geography, you might find it impossible to get your car out of the driveway.

[@meemo9242]

AHHHHHH

[@drewdaley2452]

sometimes when i'm feeling particularly emotional about the workings of the world, i come back and watch this video. the peaceful music and the wonder in the narrator's voice does something to my soul i think

[@connordrake5713]

I also watched documentary about beavers and seeing this rodents do the jobs without some human interference is soothing on my brain. It relaxes me to realize that there is still hope for earth. We don't need Mars as a second home if we can't protect our home first from human destruction.

[@Joe-uv9jo]

@@connordrake5713 They're called keystone species and there are many other species which I think you will also find interesting.

[@TTR210]

me too man. I come back to this video every 6 months or so

[@miksterrr-rose]

same. the first time I saw this video was back in 2017-18. i'm still coming back because of the narrator.

[@wandilenzuza5323]

been coming back for six years now x

[@johnny63ism]

Who else is watching it just for pure joy and love of the nature, Just me? okay

[@wolvesgirl1565]

Me too

[@dennisguethe8296]

Nature is awesome, man is ignorant for slaughtering the wolves.

[@wolvesgirl1565]

@@dennisguethe8296 Agreed

[@ivybingham6819]

An amazing and beautiful video which should be shown all over the world to show just how the natural eco system can be obtained that clearly shows that the wolves have their very important part to play in obtaining this. X

[@MeganSummers87499]

Me too

[@katie_lundberg]

My husband and I were driving through the park yesterday and we saw three wolves. We drive through the park whenever the weather is good enough and we’re only 90 miles away from one of the entrances. It makes for a day trip. It was are fourth time through the park this year and it was our first time seeing any wolves.

[@jeffreyhusack2400]

They are very elusive of people ,they know people are bad news

[@harmoni4499]

@@jeffreyhusack2400 We human are bad news for sure...We wiped out all the wolves in yellowstone & now we had to bring them from the Canada.

[@fortnitepoglord]

[@redwister2056]

3 years later this still blows me away

[@Epsylon21]

This story has been debunked. www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/scientists-debunk-myth-that-yellowstone-wolves-changed-entire-ecosystem-flow-of-rivers/70004699

[@oldschooladkwhitetails215]

Amazing

[@bornvillain6819]

@@Epsylon21 You need to learn the difference between "debunked" and "challenged".

[@xlacsapx]

@@Epsylon21 In the article stated within your article, Hobbs is saying, that wolves had an impact, but without beavers, it either wouldn't happen so fast or that it might would have never happened. The regenerating willows need swampy water to rise up so quick and they get it from the water ponded by beaver dams. It is always important to know about all point of views about a process to built up your own. So thank you for posting that article. But be careful with the words you are using, as Born Villain mentioned, there is a difference between "debunked" and "challenged"

[@jean-francoisavon62]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJbLdJyMl9WGeas

[@gabrielajo2972]

It is SO fascinating to see how nature and ecosystems self-regulate. The whole planet is like a breathing organism. Damn.

[@manulamb]

omit the word "like", it IS an organism and humans are like a parasite living on it's skin

[@sameervaidya7286]

Omit the word lie. humans ARE a parasite living on its skin

[@user-rq1sy5fy3y]

this video showed us how EVERY thing is connected. You may believe us to be parasites, yet we too are a part of the eco-system.

[@PUN15H3R_OG]

J no this video showed us how a few animals are connected. it said nothing about humans. We are destroying the planet, take a look around mate. Agriculture and commercial fishing will be the end of us.

[@user-rq1sy5fy3y]

Trippy Buisness End or no, destruction or no. Everything is connected. i have shared the info, it is up to you to take it. :)

[@TarekMarzouki]

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

[@kaimsbeam]

EVERYBODY TALKIN ABOUT THEIR TEACHER SENDING EM HERE BUT NO ONE TALKIN ABOUT HOW DAMN INTRESTING THIS VIDEO IS

[@mefford67]

*The Yellowstone wolf project has been such an incredible and fascinating living science experiment! These wolves have literally changed the landscape and more moose, beaver, and songbirds were the first to reappear. Utterly fascinating!*

[@pecfree]

How do you type dark letters

[@natclo9229]

@@pecfree * before and after what you want to say *hello*

[@alhafdar2753]

@@natclo9229 *hello

[@alhafdar2753]

______-

[@natclo9229]

Before and after * hello * Without spaces

[@MrNeymar360]

This video makes you realize how we living organisms are really all connected

[@milk5002]

Carlos Flores same

[@mysticwolf6141]

Carlos Flores same

[@milk5002]

Mystic Wolf woah I responded to this video 2 months ago wow. I remember this in science class. Man I miss that class but hey it’s summer now

[@mysticwolf6141]

[CPT] xMistx i remember watching this in 4th grade science

[@Sauron.1]

Mankind isn't connected to any other living being out there at all. We're just connected with facebook, with your supermarket and most important with your online wallet. Humanity lost the connection with the invention of electricity. Thats my thought.

[@emilillez]

And elsewhere people want to kill off wolves as soon as their population is slightly above the line of being threatened. I wish I could show this to all the people in my country, because nature is absolutely awesome and too few have any idea about its complexity.

[@zsofiniedermayer9925]

I'm reading the comments about how many teachers made their class to watch this during lock downs and I am so happy about it. Actually 2 years ago I made my class to watch this after a presentation I made with a friend at 11th grade. I have chills every time I watch this video.

[@sickofcrap8992]

May God help your students, and it has nothing to do with them watching this video.

[@Shanvind2302]

The Wolves, small in number, changed everything. Words to remember.

[@tsbm9]

best video i've seen in a long time, taught me so much about how wolves restore balance in nature.

[@tomhiprow9848]

It's not so much just wolves but the vid shows how small changes to an eco system has huge impacts

[@williamthell5930]

So its kind true that godzilla and the titans were doing the same

[@rx8380]

tsbm9 it not just wolves 🐺, every living being...

[@thalmoragent9344]

Will4theking &LIFEonTheWORLD Yep! Titans would help us out too, if they existed.

[@JP-np8kg]

There is another cool one about a guy in Texas who reintroduced grass into an area and it totally revitalize the area turning it from arid to lots of water. Really fascinating.

[@C.C-os1cz]

Wolves are often portrayed as villains in both folklore and the wild life but their presence and role in the ecosystem is so important and needed.

[@bridge4]

Still one of the best youtube videos ever made

[@CBielski87]

yeah but what bout wolves now

[@katieeee4383]

NO

[@taiekvana]

truly a remarkable video.

[@Coco13]

Agree, my favorite video ever.

[@jacksonc120]

It's very incorrect though

[@nr126]

Our native people been screaming this for decades. Will we ever listen

[@moncorp1]

Um yeah, like you can see, they did in fact re-introduce wolves. sooooo But where we've truly dropped the ball is forest management. Ask natives about that too. They used to burn the prairies and forests on a regular basis. Less catostrophic that way. What do we do? Let the forest build up with detritus until when there is a fire it just destroys everything because there's too much fuel.

[@cnolan7577]

@Guitar but we're still too arrogant to believe we should just keep our hands off to begin with.

[@Gauntlet1212]

Ah yes, the wise natives that were so one with nature, they hunted a good portion of the megafauna of north america into extinction.

[@nr126]

@@Gauntlet1212 Don't bring your mother into this pal.

[@Gauntlet1212]

@@nr126 Now I feel really sorry for you.

[@Serai3]

This is the world we're destroying. This jewel so delicately balanced that the presence of a single species can change the face of the land itself.

[@Marmocet]

Careful you don't get too hippy-dippy. People have to achieve a certain level of wealth and material security before they can reach a point where they have the luxury of caring about things like this. When people are poor and struggling to survive, wolves to them are just creatures who kill their source of livelihood. Elephants are creatures who destroy their crops. Lions are creatures that eat them. Forest is just something that needs to be cleared to make room to grow crops that will keep them alive. If we want to give nature the best shot we can, we have to help people become wealthier and more productive, so they don't need to trample over nature to get what they need just to survive.

[@gronkiusmaximus]

@@Marmocet What a nice comment, if only more people responded like this to each other instead of being hostile all the time

[@5thMilitia]

@Beast Mode Go say that to the people who need to feed their children at the cost of the forests. Everyone would do the same thing if you had no choice

[@Orsan_]

Also, humans are the only known species in the world that protects the species and environment. We develop new ways of getting energy for our activities, each time more and more efficiently and with less impact (nuclear or renewal, for example). We created programs that studies, controls or protects other species in order to prevent their disappearance or overpopulation. Yes, there's been a negative print in the planet due to our presence, but we also work in order to mitigate it.

[@Steven-ck6kv]

@@Marmocet no we do not own this planet, we are destroying it. The need to survive does not justify this.

[@Jarod-sm5rf]

This showed me the importance of balance in native I never knew how important the food chain way nor how big a impact one species alone can have, until I learned the effect of wolves being introduced into the ecosystem they once’s roamed.

[@triplets.of.roblox]

Tell me if wolves are innocent towards humans. Also, thanks to COVID-19, we are eLearning by watching this. EDIT as of 6/12/2020: I come back to find that 235 people like this and are probably doing e-learning throughout summer. Wow, thanks! I already finished school for this year because it ended on the day it was supposed to end.

[@sirin1434]

Sharing this experience with you! I wish you lots of fun at eLearining!

[@savannahpeirce2832]

Same my 8th grade teacher made me watch this

[@0824ren]

Hahhaha well said :) but relly make sense born leader of the jungle, wolfs hehehe

[@0824ren]

Not tarzan hahaha

[@MrUnunique]

My professor sent me here as well.

[@darkeclipticheart]

Its videos like this that make me VERY scared about just how much humans have changed things in nature.

[@TomRolfson]

I'm more worried about the potential of societal collapse before we destroy the environment. Most Americans don't understand our country is not failproof and that civilizations older and larger (geographically and % of world population at the time) than ours have failed. We cannot sustain the spending, entitlements, frivolous foreign aid and trade deficit with China. I'm not a nut-job survivalist, but believe this kind of collapse is far more imminent threat than anything environmental for the next generation or three.

[@renger6002]

There's nothing inherently wrong with changing things in nature. We were always bound to make our mark, but man we need to not kill ourselves. So I agree with you in that sense

[@ichron7736]

You can't exist without making some sort of impact in some way. Which is your choice? An uninhabited planet with nothing changed, or one that has inevitable change that comes with living?

[@MooMooManist]

renger6002 Very good point. I would add that humans have always caused mass extinctions wherever they moved as a result of our success in exploiting the environment. So changing nature is not a new phenomenon, nor is it bad. Mother Nature is a pretty bad caretaker; you can't rely on her to provide you with a comfortable and long life.

[@bitfreakazoid]

The Earth has been changing since it formed 4.54 BILLION years ago, and it will continue to change for a long time to come. Many typed of floral, faunu and many other types of life have come and gone long before man was around. Even if we were to go extinct it will continue to change. Get over it.

[@robskinnerjr]

If I ever get in trouble with the law I want this Narrator to do my Closing Arguments. 😏😈

[@poiuyqwerty9516]

...and as soon as he finishes his last sentence defending your innocence, he starts howling...OOOOoooooo~~!

[@kwametwumasi8543]

Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaa that was a good one.

[@emiliospowerballer1441]

you should watch a scent of a woman 'Woohaaaaaa'

[@arabianknight47]

This is one of my favorite KZbin videos of all time, I remember I even pulled the video up on a projector in an empty lecture hall at ASU and forced my study group to watch it and learn about trophic cascades.

[@jipasd]

I remember seeing the long edition ages ago, and it still popped to my head when thinking about wolves. Couldn't remember the details anymore, but it is a powerful story and I'm glad many others have seen it as well.

[@hyderock]

This never gets old. One of my favorite docs. Nature is amazing

[@ananabean1150]

Right? :3

[@trollface1994]

yes it does. it's now four years old.

[@sandorclegane2485]

The passion in the narrator's voice is truly inspiring. I think it should be an aspiration for all of us to find a subject we can speak as passionately about. Have a good day folks.

[@kellenchang473]

I'm watching this because my teacher gave us homework related to this and it was actually pretty lit since I like wolves

[@morningmistyify]

I am sorry that you as a student must learn on line now - it is a difficult collective sacrifice that could be over by spring. As an ecology teacher who cannot take her students out into the world right now, this beautiful video tells a great story about how ecosystems can heal themselves and recover. It serves it's purpose in this crazy and temporary time. I suggest even if you must do remote school, go outside and see what the natural world can teach you. WE are not the first to live in unfortunate times that demand things from us that we don't like.

[@varda3676]

Hope this will encourage everyone to remain eco friendly and restore food chains to avoid serious problems

[@brettperry3737]

Or at least stop killing wolves. A rancher loses half a dozen sheep one year, and their answer is to slaughter the local wolf population. Because apparently it never occurred to anyone that losing some livestock might be the cost of doing business in wolf country.

[@stefan1924]

Using fences and guard dogs should solve that problem, should it?

[@varda3676]

@@stefan1924 A pack of wolves would easily kill the dogs. Some are very agile and cunning and they will find a way in

[@blackfang1217]

I have not heard of a pack of wolves outsmarting an electric fence xd

[@varda3676]

@@blackfang1217 😂

[@MidlandTexan]

I spent three days in Yellowstone in early July (2019), the rangers told us there were approximately 10 packs of wolves, with a population of around 140 wolves. The park is more than three times the size of the State of Rhode Island. Never saw any wolves, but we did see a couple of grizzly's and a few black bear. Plenty of elk, and bison. The park is beyond describable.

[@craigswagerty1155]

Amazing I think. I came to watch the video because my professor assigned it but I’ve known about the project for years. It’s just an awesome video to watch even if you’re not here for school. Amazing how life being returned to an area can change the environment so much.

[@summer_the_rae]

Like most of you, I came here for school. But this was actually super interesting! I had no idea wolves had such an impact on Yellowstone.

[@usimahaeua]

I never even knew their was wolves in Yellowstone.

[@jaimeth08]

ALL living animals play a role in the ecosystem!

[@shadow_sprite1006]

Except humans

[@007batman8]

shadow _sprite beat me to it lol

[@ryukaganzeroful]

Loving all the comments, but to add something a bit more serious: This video alone made me interested in environmental studies, and animal science. This video led me down a rabbit hole of information regarding animals, and their effect on the environment. I seriously can't wait to start my classes. Thank you.

[@2coolhipdude]

www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/scientists-debunk-myth-that-yellowstone-wolves-changed-entire-ecosystem-flow-of-rivers/349988

[@franciscogutierrez818]

Im glad that a lot of people know this now, regardless of how they "get here" .

[@crypto.cool3]

Who else is watching this for school? Just me, ok

[@nadyachavez2952]

Sheena Lundy me too

[@boomanten1020]

you're not alone

[@likeicare2309]

yep

[@Gabe-gv8vc]

Yep me to

[@iamnotamango]

Not me lol

[@edwindominguez4627]

Damn I learned something today

[@zeminoid]

I'm sorry you had to go through that difficult situation mate.

[@tinusg]

www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/opinion/is-the-wolf-a-real-american-hero.html

[@patrikpersson9364]

It’s propaganda mate.

[@This-isGirl]

Thank you for this beautiful video. I love wolves

[@tinusg]

www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/opinion/is-the-wolf-a-real-american-hero.html

[@LinniFight]

[@Hi-bh2hx]

@Diego Tapanes Dogs were created when hunters adopted wolf pups into their tribes, so dogs are technically offbrand wolves

[@kentsgodfrey2513]

How can anyone not like this video? It is amazing. I have a degree in acting, I've given a couple of TEDx talks, and I use this as the perfect example of how to deliver a presentation.

[@devonpayton3928]

The narrator did an excellent job. You could hear the "sounds" of "Yellowstone" coming to life in his voice, so-to-speak. I could've imagined the images of the river flowing, birds flying high, etc., all in my head with just his narration alone.

[@robbiemorrison5004]

The real question is why wouldn't we want wolves reintroduced into Britain again? Majestic animal

[@thornstories]

+Robbie Morrison by some reports, Britain has a big cat problem to get fixed first. The documentaries and reports don't say so, but it sounds like some old private menagerie cats have escaped and have been living wild for generations.

[@tg97432]

+Robbie Morrison Because Europe doesn't have the same landscapes. In US they have such huge national parks that they can reintroduce wolves without having to worry about their interactions with the human society... They did it in France and it's a big problem because they're too close to the men and in particular the sheep farms. They prefer hunting the sheeps that are a very easy prey. So it's catastrophic for the farmers and shows no benefit for the ecosystem as they don't have to make the effort to hunt wild preys. In Britain, the sheep industry is bigger than in France and the lack of space too... So I guess it's just not thinkable to do it in Britain... :/ I hope I gave you a sattisfying answer in a not too bad english!

[@dead-eyeddrifter5756]

+tg97432 The man in this video speaking is George Monbiot he has written a book called Feral which talks about the reintroduction of the wolf to the British landscape. Not only is the reintroduction of the wolf feasible, but it is necessary, your wildlife and natural landscapes are dying you need an apex predator in the ecosystem again. About the reintroduction of the wolf to France, their population is far too small to be have any significant impact on livestock, and there's no evidence to say they prefer Livestock over natural prey. And besides sheep overgraze the landscape and are out of control throughout Europe and the British Isles, lowering the numbers of a non-native invasive species would do a lot of good for the environment and it would finally teach people to rely less on sheep.

[@martinkamminga6354]

md97432 so Europe is just the UK and France? We (Europeans) have beautiful, wild, nature in Scandinavia (among others). We also have wolves living here. However, stupid humans (our nature, stupidity) want to shoot them ones again. We tend to to shoot/kill/destroy everything that's in our way.

[@PinayYonsei]

Wolf backwards is flow.

[@HORSESNDOGS9]

JJM Hicks :d

[@katherinew2189]

Hank you to everyone that produced this beautiful video. Love George’s enthusiasm for this topic and the excitement in his voice whilst explaining how everything is interconnected.

[@Danichdelight]

Properly the best video ever and the dialekt of the speaker is just perfect, plain English and beautiful.. Enjoy and share :-)

[@Ricadamu]

It's about balance. Nature's balance that is always thrown off centre by man's desire to 'manage' the ecosystem or exploit it without giving anything back. These lessons need to be learned.

[@spearfishies]

It's great they are NOT following New Zealand's practice of deer control; spreading 1080 poison over the land, forests and waterways by helicopter. youtube search- watch and share: - New Zealand Rivers - The Fight to Keep Them Poison-Free - Poisoning Paradise fest version

[@guilhermesena1283]

***** If we stop ignoring a simple fact, that human beings are also natural beings, your argument becomes invalid in every way. It's a matter of perspective.

[@MoistureCheef]

Guilherme Sena We may be natural beings, But Parasites are also natural.

[@temazcalx2593]

***** I've checked out your discussion line, buddy. You're rude and use your words in an absurd manner, but I guess this "balances out" with those who know how to use their's accordingly.

[@Ricadamu]

Sunyata I prefer to live in a world where humans respect the role of all creatures and not just the ones that don't inconvenience us. When discussing the semantics of 'balance' it is simple. It's a situation where many species compliment the existence of others. When there is an explosion of population in nature (this is common) it is not often sustainable and it usually balanced out. Humans can't exploit the natural system without the earth taking back eventually. A lifetime for us is a few moments for the planet. Humans, as large mammals may find things will get more difficult with time. Of course, for most of humanity it already is. Climate issues,resources management and population growth should be at the forefront of discussions today but most leaders can't see beyond their terms.

[@tuckercaldwell4965]

This video deserves +27 million views. :) If only every video supporting wildlife conservation got this much attention.

[@willshen1772]

This is actually only because, presently, schools all over the place in multiple districts, have shown children this for homework.

[@delanieknapp8190]

Even then. That is still eyes viewing this information.

[@LipitzanerStallion29]

Damned skippy but that's a good thing

[@xxomegadawgxx6010]

Now it has 44

[@lawdawgm2844]

I love the passion in the narrators voice and emotion he conveyed, you should keep in for future videos!

[@anes_m100]

George has a wonderful way of explaining the wonder of nature. Great video.

[@fechmb0749]

This is the best short video I have ever seen on how important facts that we as humans don't understand yet can help us improve our natural environments. Thanks to Petra Muchova for her sharing this on her pages and starting me thinking about this. The wonder of it is that this occurred after gradual reintroduction of wolves. I know quite a few of us understand the ideas around keystone species and what happens to wild populations when they grow beyond resource capability to sustain them, but this concept too needs to be done clearly in a short video like this. This 4+ minute video is so well narrated and the video is incredibly well edited, brief, and catches my attention and holds it. No wonder you are getting up to 3 million views. Hurray. This is how our scientists need to begin getting their important work out. Avoid the jargon. Tell interesting stories. Alan Alda is working with the State University of New York at Stony Brook to do the same type of thing by helping scientists and engineers speak more effectively to ordinary people like me who don't speak the jargon of science. Your organization should cooperate with him. Here's the link below. It's from Alda's keynote speech at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting in Chicago just a few weeks ago. www.centerforcommunicatingscience.org/advocating-and-teaching-science-communication/ #wolves #ecosystemhealth #keystonespecies #ecosystemcollapse #yellowstonenationalpark

[@fechmb0749]

Clive Williams It's made me think back to the series Connection(s) by James Burke a few decades ago. I think of all the nature and conservation/ecology research that went into understanding this. How many streams of knowledge and wisdom are coming together? I am reminded again and again to walk humbly in my so called certainties and to realize that some of my knowledge is very rudimentary. It is so important to learn to listen well and hear the truths and stories of others and what their truths are. I am beginning to understand pretty deeply why some of the very best scientists and truth seekers I have known were so very humble and really knew how to frame good questions. I'm looking forward to Sunday evening and the new Cosmos series to begin on Fox and National Geographic Channels. I think Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a very bright human being. I hope he can pull the renewal of that famed Carl Sagan series off just as well as Sagan did. I know many millions of us are just counting the hours down to 9 pm on Sunday Night. I think that's when it is in Minneapolis (Central Time). And, yes. It is amazing and to think of all the cases where we don't understand the cascade of causality. It will come though if we learn to be more patient and thoughtful.

[@GraemeMcRae]

There is an alternative point of view to that depicted in this video, which was brought to my attention by Hans Havermann -- www.nature.com/news/rethinking-predators-legend-of-the-wolf-1.14841

[@fechmb0749]

Graeme McRae What a wonderful article. Thank you Graeme. I think what this article introduces very well is the idea of complexity. An ecosystem involves multiple streams of interrelated independent variables and streams of causation. When I see that the cause is just one variable like wolf reintroduction impacting elks and then causing them to graze less or in less volume, then I get very concerned. What I've learned through my experiences with survey research is that there are usually at least a few very important variables. It makes sense to me that an absolute control like fences around the Aspen will make those trees grow much higher generally. The Elk can't reach them anymore. Wolves on the other hand will control the eating of those saplings partially and intermittently. There are many times when the wolves will just not be around and others when they are full and not interested. If there's a very dry season, the Aspen will be stunted as a very cold growing period will do. Beavers are another important species. I think that great article says they are good for forests too. So, there is both top down and bottom up control and many scientists think we really need to look at the middle level. I enjoy this kind of reading very much and what it brings to mind is that it is really important here to have an ethnological study of the forest and biosphere in the park where citizen scientists observe careful, measure and record, and gather many, many data points. It's like some of the famous studies that have been done of native peoples and their culture like the famed anthropologist Margaret Mead did. Here's a good link to her work from a wonderful Library of Congress Exhibition: www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/field-samoa.html In this case, we have the computing power and perhaps a large group of citizen scientists who could really help us understand that Yellowstone ecosystem. Citizen science as a way to augment the capabilities and data gathering power of scientists is becoming more and more important. Here's a blog about citizen science which I enjoy very much. There is a great deal of good information on recommended computer science projects, nature projects, and many new happenings in the science world where volunteers work with scientists to make science possible. www.openscientist.org/2014/02/big-news-from-openscientist.html?showComment=1394506391130#c8376365515129550555 I used to do quite a bit of this kind of thing by participating in a medicine discovery computing project on BOINC the University of California's backbone internet system for many citizen science projects for distributed computing for science.

[@jrcoffman31]

Graeme McRae good find, gives way more detail

[@uncletony6210]

Every life form serves a purpose that benefits the planet, and serves that purpose to PERFECTION - including us.

[@OuRtUBe2]

We're here to mine gold for aliens :)

[@dinosaurusrex1482]

@@OuRtUBe2 no, we're here to become the aliens, to bring life to all corners of the universe

[@OuRtUBe2]

@@dinosaurusrex1482 cant do that when the government oppressing people tho??

[@Llennann]

I'm afraid humanity is more like the deers in this story...

[@evandardy5240]

Look at the wolves man, so inspirational

[@lukey139]

I still remember my Geography teacher showing me this back in grade 10. The nostalgia…Thanks N.J.

[@PaulChekLive]

So lovely to see how Mother Nature balances Herself. It would be safe to say that without man's intervention (in general), nature holds Her own balance. It would seem logical that their "instincts" are what drives their behavior and resultant changes. It would also seem that at large, man has lost access to "natural instincts", such as being able to differentiate from the desire to drink water vs coffee, tea, and soda. Or the desire to eat real food instead of chemically laden, processed, poisonous garbage. And, the instinct to know when our behavior is destabilizing the natural infrastructure that allows our own survival. What will the imbalance we are causing attract as a balancing force? Do we need to turn Grizzly bears loose in major cities, or encourage TV programming that focuses on things we all need to know about how to live in balance with the earth and simple tips for doing that? Much chi, Paul Chek Holistic Health Practitioner Founder, C.H.E.K Institute

[@victorsaenger9401]

There is no such thing as Mother Nature. We are nature. We are Homo sapiens and everything we do is part of nature. The egocentristic point of view that humans are apart from nature is part of the problem. That doesn't mean that much of what we do is not harming the environment though I agree with that. But how about tackling the problem form the inside instead of thinking of humans as something different? I'm as similar to a wolf as you and everybody else is. No extra sparkle required.

[@js290]

Victor Saenger Civilized humans always trying to decouple coupled systems. Was killing off the wolves to begin with "part of nature?" How was wiping out the bison "part of nature?" plus.google.com/u/0/+Decivilized/posts/ixeM5PTuhmp

[@js290]

Please define "human nature." What incentive would hunter-gatherer humans have to destroy their own ecosystems that sustained them? The Native Americans did not kill off the wolves because they made for bad tourism.

[@hisxmark]

Paul Chek: Bear in mind, that sometimes nature balances the books by closing the account. Extinction means the birth rate and the death rate are perfectly equal: zero. That is a stable solution.

[@LeisaRileyStewart]

Victor Saenger I can tell you have been nurtured to live as an earthen soul. Mother nature is as real as humans being part of the universe. Humans often have no mercy this can lead to pollutants and litter. Nature repairs nature but prevention of it's cycle and altering it's matter does more harm than good.🌷

[@tangerud]

Tell that to the Norwegian Gouverment, here in Norway top-predators are beein restricted to realy tiny areas, and even in them cant be safe for the narrowminded elk-hunters and sheepfarmers that dont want any competiton.

[@skyfirejay6162]

Hope they see this video! I am sure those 2.8k downvotes are from ranchers, free grazers, and some uneducated hunters.

[@HubertofLiege]

A maybe your the narrow minded one

[@downbntout]

I saw it myself there. Sheep on roadways and cars expected to be careful of them. Gardens fencing them out. There must be a balance between what the sweater makers need and everyone else. I saw sorry-looking little potater available until all the Nor ones sold so out of country ones could come in. That was at Obs i Næroset south of Lillehammer

[@julieenslow5915]

Its well documented science in Yellowstone National Park. I'm sure you can get the information if you want it to have for those in your government who don't believe this video. It would be sad if you all had to make the same mistakes we made in the US when we made the wolf extinct in the lower 48 states. As you saw in the video - we fixed it 70 years later. And the ranchers, the hunters and the farmers were 90% of the reason the wolf was removed from the equation to start with - so it was the same people you are dealing with. But now we know - it might make life easier on them this year - but slowly the habitat changes will make the hunters unhappy, the lack of beaver will make the watersheds less beneficial to wildlife and distant stock animals, the rivers and lack of grazing beside them will become an issue for the ranchers, the deer will become a problem.... well. Your government will listen or they will learn the hard way. Same with the farmers, hunters and ranchers. We learn to work with nature or we suffer for it.

[@HubertofLiege]

Julie Enslow I disagree with your hypothesis. Hunters took the place of wolves everywhere but the parks. The problems associated with a lack of a large predator were only in the parks. Now we have greatly diminished hunting opportunities because of the needs of wolves. Too bad you might say, except now there are roads that lead down to the urban rural interface and the wolves after they exhaust prey at the ends of the roads walk down and kill farm and ranch animals and pets. Think I’m exaggerating? Here in Western Washington we now have confirmed wolf kills one hour from Seattle. Wolves kill and that’s why we decided to not exist on even terms seventy years ago. If you live along this border you’ll come to regret this decision with wolves.

[@casienwhey]

The wolf howl is a sound unlike any other in nature. It touches your soul when you hear it. I think our dog had some wolf in her and she would howl sometimes in the backyard at night, or when we left, or just to do it, and it was an eerie sound, quite beautiful, and somewhat sad too.

[@worldsbestaquarium08]

This is the greatest thing I have ever had to watch for a university subject.

[@funatall20s]

One of the most inspiring part of this video was where that bald eagle was so casually chillin with the ravens xD

[@gamechakra]

And that's why we shouldn't kill other apex predators like sharks.

[@rolandsj8880]

Exactly! Statistics shows that cows kill much more than sharks.

[@blakagant]

Rolands Jjj those shifty bastards

[@JackpotJunkiee]

Rolands Jjj Furniture also kills more people than sharks lol

[@yttrium7646]

Humans kill more of literally everything than everything else combined.

[@username4850]

yttrium that’s a big assumption especially considering science has discover less than 1% of the fossil record.

[@rileyyourfriend6767]

I only here cuz of online schooling since corona virus shut down all schools

[@soakingpillow3643]

yep

[@caseyeisfeldt2965]

me to

[@kaelanmarriner2871]

Yep

[@ellaharris5340]

ruderudeRUDE

[@isabelcristinaacostavelez7230]

Me too

[@coreylu3283]

Only people from online learning can like this comment.

[@cuzucogaming4754]

Corey Lu hell ye

[@cuzucogaming4754]

StripedFN how?

[@strangereactions6]

me sadly

[@jonathanperez1565]

😂

[@benwhelband7220]

hell yeah

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

This should be titled "How Harmful Deer Are"

[@gerbenuunk]

Would love to see wolves reintroduced in Ireland too, what could happen in Yellowstone, could take place in Eire too. Brilliant video.

[@greywolf6592]

i have watched a documentary that all wolves were extinct in yellowstone and got introduced again, how did they introduce the timber wolf back in yellowstone when all of them (i think) were killed?

[@charliepeters7122]

There actually talking of releasing wild lynx somewhere up north for a similar reason

[@FullMoonEnglish]

I think in some places they just have to use the most closely related ones they can find.

[@pitbullwub]

I'm so glad my biology teacher told me to watch this video whenever that was that I took her class from Santa Barbara City College. And I find myself coming back from time to time to watch it again and again but it is just amazing how these animals are so important to restore the balance in Yellowstone.

[@cynicalparadox3690]

I believe this video was the sole reason I started looking into more ecology.

[@lilith658]

I cried watcing it,maybe i'm too sensitive,i don't know...But such a beauty,the perfect harmony that nature reach about herself. She's so fine without us...

[@FineArtTips]

Wow fabulous! Thank you for this awesome video! I LOVE wolves. I just drew one in my last drawing tutorial. But I had no idea of the positive effect they have in the world! :)

[@hitty9]

Fine Art-Tips..........And you're making the assumption that changing the course rivers is a good thing....Why?

[@danhaynes446]

+hitty9 Do you have evidence to support your implicit claim that returning the river courses to conditions similar to what they have been for thousands of years might not be a good thing? Never show up armed only with rhetoric(i.e. dumb questions, which in spite of all claims to the contrary do actually exist) because sooner or later some smart ass is going to ask you for reason and evidence to support your claim.

[@sagewidder513]

Because it is returning it to it's original course. So it was restoration and not creation.

[@Gaiwen_Li]

hi fine art tips :D

[@SeaGrub]

Matt Jones Whoa, everyone watch out, we have a super tough guy here.

[@user-yw4mo6wn7e]

An eyeopener - thank you!

[@simonmc2348]

I watch this at least 3/5 times a year absolutely amazing and tell anyone I know to check it out best lesson I ever learned

[@graywolf4696]

Wolves howling is like Angels singing!! *Awooooooooooooooooo... AWOOOOOOooooooooo........!!!! :P~~*

[@maxaussie1996]

Yup

[@momsahome]

that was truly beautiful & very enlightening!! Thanks

[@graywolf4696]

trina jean Jones Thank you for your very kind reply!! :P~~

[@pazh.vonquesadagermansheph8689]

I love the way you said wolves howling is like angels singing, because its true...wolves are such wonderful creatures

[@graywolf4696]

Paz Hernandez It's totally true!! To hear wolves howling can just relax me and put me to sleep! I used to love hearing it in real life.. Some of them had such beautiful howls.....

[@thelastfreeapache5004]

I raised a pack of wolves up high in the mountains of South lake Tahoe. We ran the mountains. They were friendly with dogs and humans but hated coyotees. During this time an atricle came out talking about the coyotee problem on the North Shore and down at the lake...lol...My wolves ran them off the South side of the mountain. During this time my wolves rescued atleast a dozen dogs up in the mointains lost. The owners thought the coyotees had got them. I would tell them nope the wolves did. Shoulda have seen the looks on their faces when they came to pick them up and they were in the yard playing with 8 wolves. They also protected the neighborts cats. True story. Today I have 2 left from that pack. They were all very sweet and well behaived as they all slept inside except one, my wild Luna.

[@picksey4736]

that's so cool! what kind of job do you have where you get to raise wolves?

[@pankajkalohia4367]

This video put a completely different way of thinking... It's amazing

[@longnguyenson646]

Holy mackerel, this probably is the most enthusiastic narrator I've listened to!!

[@TheR4Wolf]

Many Thanks a Bunch 4 sending/sharing the Soul/Heart & Spirit from Rivers - Wolves ... That's They would hope for ....

[@abetheconservationist595]

We should also reintroduce wolves in other parts of the United States such as the Gulf States, Great Smoky mountains national park, Central Idaho, the Carolinas, as well as Arizona and New Mexico. We should also reintroduce wolves in parts of Europe too like, Denmark, Germany, Italy, UK, Ireland, Sweden, and Norway.

[@maryjaneamstafflove3214]

We have wolves in Norway, about 63-67 actually. The problem is the goverment issued a license to kill up to 47 of them. Even the ones living in the designated wolf zones. One pack is planned to be wiped out, even though they havent killed any livestock. The livestock (sheep) are let out in the mountains and sourounding areas without any supervision (no dogs, no humans, no nothing). The farmers on top of that get double off what they would get paid from the butcher if a sheep is killed by a predator. Wolves stand for about 10% of the sheep that die while out in the summer months, the rest die from a broken leg, falls, falling and not being abel to get up... No farmer screams about the pain those sheep go through. But they scream about the wolves. They say that if the sheep dont roam free the landscape will grow wild and that is aparantly a bad thing in they`r heads. Tourists dont want to see that, or the wolves, or any wildlife if we listen to the ppl against the wolves. It`s just sad. I saw a wolf this spring on the field by our house. One was spotted a few kilometers from here a few days ago. I hope it lives!

[@abetheconservationist595]

deviantan021 The only place I traveled to is Alaska. I'm too young to reintroduce wolves. Hopefully, they'll be reintroduced in a couple of years. I'd love wolves and lynxes to be back in the UK. Please bring them back.

[@rosemoon3118]

Red wolves roam the Carolinas and Mexican wolves roam Arizona and New Mexico

[@abetheconservationist595]

ROSEMOON I know. The red wolf is either a subspecies of gray wolf or a hybrid of a gray wolf or coyote. The Mexican wolf is a subspecies of gray wolf. Red wolves and Mexican wolves are both very endangered.

[@lauraleighbates5706]

Abe The Cool Guy. I am from Tn and they reintroduced the black timber wolf there about 15 yrs ago

[@anubeawaldron473]

This is actually pretty cool tbh.

[@vrazzy3948]

Cap

[@nenhuma57]

Hello there, the Wolf sound in the beggining and the ending of the vídeo is wonderful! And the things I learned tonight about the little number of wolves are amazing, thank you for sharing this knowledge, greetings rrom Brasil

[@mscops3569]

Thanks for posting this video - showing how one apex predator in one ecosystem can reverberate out to the many many different 'jobs' within that ecosystem. Very inspiring!

[@DPowered2]

If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish

[@pagetvido1850]

The chimps have already hit the stone age, it would take a few more hundred thousand years at most for intelligent life to give the same challenge. Humans aren't evil, we're just at an awkward juncture between instinct and intelligence.

[@Lizotte100]

now... there are like 1000000x more isects then there are humans also in Biomass so obviously its way worse. also no. not ALL life would flourish if humans died. we are also part of an ecosystem (even if its artificial), animals live in and with it.

[@SandeepSingh-we7qb]

The nuclear reactors will go off killing everyone

[@kamranbashir4842]

Many farm and pet animals will die also

[@stratdaddy]

charles hedberg I’m not claiming it’d be beneficial.

[@lordrandolf1]

This is beautiful. Thanks for posting.

[@TRUE-WORSHIPPER952]

I loved this videography, narration and music choice! Bravo!

[@KellyPosey]

Important to get to know and understand these relationships so we can best understand how to work with nature and maintain a proper balance that is supportive to all life

[@capicuaaa]

This is quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

[@U.Inferno]

It should be mentioned that wolves were dropped from being a protected species by the Fish and Wildlife service and as such, human overhunting of wolves has jumped back up and are only expected to continue. As seen by the video, wolves have a significant impact on the ecosystem and such a move is clearly a terrible one.

[@TAMAKING-ho8tb]

It makes me so angry. They're undoing YEARS of efforts to stabilize wolf populations.

[@sickofcrap8992]

Obviously, this part of the government cares nothing at all about what they're supposed to be protecting, any more than the rest of the government cares about their jobs.

[@StoneFlower77]

My science teacher earned +10 respect for sending me this

[@patrikpersson9364]

Or maybe he should be questioned, why he send you non-scientific propaganda!?!?

[@IAdamEvansI]

As if I needed any more reasons to love wolves..

[@MikeGyorgyiMMG]

...and hate people

[@mr.x2567]

@@MikeGyorgyiMMG you know your people yourself, right?

[@fennecfox2]

1'703 dislikes? Them deer.

[@MrEss-ld3sw]

Nice

[@rahbotr4240]

Lol 😂

[@moldefan3544]

Oh deer.

[@davidswayze5396]

Brandy Jackson you nailed it. Those timber wolfs are bigger than the original grey wolf. I live in Arkansas and we didn’t have cwd or zombie deers until the reintroduction of elk to the state. Are game and fish here blame it on us hunters using doe piss. But the first case of cwd didn’t show until after the reintroduction of the elk.

[@Marcarat]

coolest video i've seen on youtube in a long time. nature, man, nature!

[@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.

[@jamienelson3470]

Mind blowing. If only we could do this in more places.

[@Idlehampster]

I know I can trust everything the narrator says because he's British.

[@9929kingfish]

Idlehampster the British should have no business narrating an American national park.

[@bricehenry1223]

You're correct it's all fairy tales. Two decades later after observing wolves and moose and whitetail in Minnesota, Mech denounced the "balance of nature" writing in (National Wildlife 23(1):54-59) he said nature "far from always being ‘balanced,’ ratios of wolves and prey animals can fluctuate wildly - and sometimes catastrophically".

[@Motorman2112]

This is normal and expected. A high level of prey animals allows for an increase in predators, which causes a reduction in numbers of prey animals, which causes a reduction in predators, which allows for an increase in the prey population again.

[@halfpricetaxes6365]

Except dental hygiene.

[@joecochrane3719]

HalfPrice Taxes Pssst, Britain are tied with Germany for the best dental hygiene in the world. Just saying

[@danielnoest3934]

amazing and beautiful video