It's been almost 20 years since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and the wilderness of Idaho and placed on the endangered species list.

At the time, advocates said wolves would be a vital link in the natural ecosystem. Returning the park's premier natural predator, would help control the park's surplus elk and bison population. Worried about the affect of wolves on their livelihoods, ranchers and hunters protested the reintroduction, some even filing lawsuits.

The discussion became heated to the point of threatened violence.

Jump ahead to 2013 when the West has seen a resurgence of wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing that they be delisted as an endangered species nationwide, except for the Mexican wolves of the Southwest. States would take over the management of wolves. Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have already delisted wolves and implemented hunting seasons.


KUED's John Howe has followed the story, first in his films, Return of the Wolves and The Snow Wolves, and now with Return of the Wolves: The Next Chapter, narrated by actor Peter Coyote.

Return of the Wolves from KUED Channel 7 on Vimeo.
Preview of "Return of the Wolves - The Next Chapter"
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