Search

Home > Short Wave > The Yellowstone Wolf Controversy
Podcast: Short Wave
Episode:

The Yellowstone Wolf Controversy

Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:13:55
Publish Date: 2025-08-20 07:00:00
Description: Thirty years ago, park rangers reintroduced grey wolves into Yellowstone National Park. They wanted to restore the ecosystem and get the elk population, which had decimated the plant community, in check. And it worked – or so the popular narrative suggests. But is it really so simple? Today on the show, we explore how the Yellowstone ecosystem has changed since wolves returned and whether those changes can really be pinned solely on wolves. Plus, how the narrative of the Yellowstone wolf legacy could affect wolf reintroduction elsewhere.

Curious about other science controversies? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Total Play: 0

Some more Podcasts by NPR

1K+ Episodes
The Indicato ..     10+