Argument essay
Historically, Kentucky was home to two wolf species: the red wolf the gray wolf. Today, neither wolf species can be found in the Bluegrass State. As the amount of human settlers increased, these creatures were seen as a potential danger, as a pest, threatening livestock. It was the belief that the red wolf caused widespread cattle losses that led to extensive predator control programs, therefore, the red wolf was totally removed from extensive areas of its former range. As being the most adaptable predator, coyotes occupied their habitat. But today coyotes are growing in population and preying on more and more livestock and pets. So an important issue should be resolved today: should we reintroduce red wolves to prevent extinction of the species, continue saving programs to rescue red wolves and increase their numbers in the wild or should we let coyotes take their niche? I believe that red wolves should be saved and the ecosystem where they once appeared should be restored.
Not all predators kill livestock, and when they do, they tend to be opportunistic, seeking whatever is easiest to meet their needs. In other words, they usually go for young, old, weak or sick animals first. As they become greatly hungry, they become much more aggressive and will attempt to take healthy, mature animals. Livestock losses to predators can and do occur worldwide and I would like to prove that harm done by coyotes is greater in comparison with the harm done by red wolves. Red Wolves and coyotes are very closely related and in fact share a recent common ancestor, but we should not forget about their significant differences.
First, we should remember that red wolves are wild and very shy species and usually stay away from people and human activities, as are afraid of us. There have been no documented cases of healthy wild red wolves attacking humans. Red wolves prey on a variety of wild mammals such as raccoon, rabbit, white-tailed deer, nutria, other rodents, and because of that they generate benefits for landowners by preying species that can be pests on a farm. Nonmammalian prey, domestic pets, and livestock are uncommon for them as prey items, though did occur in very small numbers - in comparison with other predators and especially coyotes. Wolves account for less than 1% of livestock losses. Coyotes and even domestic dogs both kill more livestock than wolves do each year. When a loss of livestock is determined to be from a wolf, reimbursement programs are available to cover the cost of the taken animal (because of them being endangered species).
Second, coyotes are also more adaptable to human beings than wolves and will always interfere with us more. These hunters will hunt for food whenever they are hungry or if the opportunity presents itself. Coyotes can even adapt to urban areas. But not red wolves, red wolves require only large wild spaces to survive, as they are to live in their own habitat.
In addition to the damage coyotes do to livestock, they also carry mange, parvo virus and rabies.
Furthermore, a wolf is bigger that a coyote, but not as smart. They do a lot of things on a whim, which shows intelligence. Coyotes are very efficient, effective killers, they quickly adapt to new pressures and changes, including hunting pressure. They may kill in the middle of the day, as they know when homeowners leave to go to work and when they come home. Coyotes will observe landowners to find best opportunities to take animals. While most coyotes are content with eating smaller prey, there are plenty who are willing to try for a farmer's sheep, calves, chickens and other livestock. Once a taste for such relatively big and easy meals is developed, it is difficult to change a coyote's mind. Coyotes also reproduce more rapidly than most other predators.
In the conclusion, there may be many reasons for such debates: who is more destructive to farms and husbandry – wolves or coyotes; however, while wolves garner a lot of attention and claim their share of livestock every year, records show that the master predator is the coyote, despite being much smaller. It is important to save all members of an ecosystem and to make sure that each species populates its ecological niche. Wolves balance a healthy ecosystem. They strengthen herds by picking off the weak and sick animals, and by keeping those populations at a healthy level so diseases don’t spread throughout the herds. This provides hunters with stronger, better animals to hunt, and balances the ecosystem, so no single species becomes overpopulated. Thereby, I am certain that the essential goal today is to prevent extinction of red wolves and to restore the ecosystems in which they once occurred. And coyotes are not to replace them, as the balance should be reached.
