Gray Wolf

     The gray wolf is the largest of the canines. They are one of the most widespread land mammals, inhabiting various ecosystems throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and a small portion of Africa. The gray wolf has many nicknames, such as the Timber Wolf, Arctic Wolf, and Tundra Wolf. The names vary depending on the location of their habitat. Gray Wolves are excellent hunters, seeking their prey using their scent.
     Wolves are known for their howl for many reasons. Howling helps members of the pack keep in touch and to communicate in thick forests or over large distances. It also helps to summon pack members to a specific locations, declaration of territory, or claiming of prey.Gray wolves are also known as keystone predators because they help maintain a balanced ecosystem. Their diet consists of large hoofed mammals, such as elk, deer, moose, and caribou, as well as smaller mammals like beavers and rabbits. Because gray wolves eliminate only weak animals, herds become stronger and healthier as a whole.
     On a global level, the Gray Wolf is considered a species of least concern, but on a regional level it is considered vulnerable of extinction due to loss of habitat, trapping, shooting, and poisoning.

How to Help

     If people would like to help gray wolves, there are several things you can do. You can adopt a wolf through organizations like Defenders of Wildlife or the National Wildlife Federation. These organizations support several initiatives that help gray wolves, such as banning aerial gunning in Alaska, fighting to preserve federal protections, and helping ranchers find effective ways to protect their livestock so they refrain from killing wolves. You can also help by supporting gray wolf habitat protection.

Gray Wolf Puppies

Photograph from NotDiscovery.org

Gray Wolf Pack

Photographed by Superb Wallpapers

Cougar

     The cougar, also known as the Mountain Lion, Puma, or Panther, is found in western North America, a small region of Florida, and most of South America. They live in various habitats from mountains to deserts to sea-level. Cougars are closely related to house cats on a larger scale. Unlike most big cats, they cannot roar. Instead, they purr like a house cat. Cougars can run up to 43 mph, they can jump to about 20 feet from standing position, and they can leap a distance of 16 feet vertically. They generally prey on deer and small mammals.
     Cougars have long been endangered, both by sport hunters and by farmers protecting their livestock. Other threats include habitat loss and automobile accidents. Their main cause of decline is loss of habitat. As a result, the cougar population has significantly decreased.
     In recent years, sightings of cougars in the northeast United States and eastern Canada have been on the rise. Although many are the result of former captive cougars who escaped or were released, there is a possibility of recolonization of cougars in the east.

How to Help
     It is difficult to stop habitat loss or reverse its effects, but there are some ways people can help. You can help persuade your congress representatives to designate the cougar as a protected animal. This prevents the taking or injuring of cougars, unless they pose a threat. You can also suggest to your congressman advocating the preservation of open land in order to maintain a livable habitat for cougars. In addition, you can donate directly to the Mountain Lion Foundation to help increase their population so they do not become extinct.

Cougar laying down

Photographed by Superb Wallpapers

Brown Bear

     The Brown Bear, also known as the Grizzly Bear, is a large omnivorous mammal found in northern and central Europe, Asia, and North America. Within North America, most Brown Bear populations roam around the lower 48 states, especially Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.
      Brown Bears are great swimmers and have a keen sense of smell. They prefer habitats that are densely covered where there is available shelter during the day. They eat almost anything from berries and roots to fish and small mammals, like mice.
     Livestock damage control, habitat deterioration, commercial trapping, unregulated hunting, and the perception that they threaten human life are leading causes of the animal's decline. As mountainous areas were settled, development greatly contributed to an increase in human-caused death for Brown Bears. Some are accidentally killed by hunters who mistake them for black bears, which can be legal game.

How to Help
     Brown Bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are coming close to the recovery target but still suffer from too many yearly mortalities. Many successes have been largely due to effort among several organizations, including  the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). The IGBC includes the U.S. Forest Service; National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, state agencies in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington, Canadian wildlife management agencies, and Native American Tribes.
    To help contribute to helping endangered Brown Bears, people can adopt a bear, and by spreading the word about endangered Brown Bears.

Brown Bear laying on a log

Photographed by Superb Wallpapers