in Yellowstone because they were too numerous and the ecosystem was being damaged by over-grazing.

All wildlife populations have to be controlled either naturally or artificially. Since the public didn’t want Yellowstone elk numbers being controlled artificially, it became necessary to bring wolves back. Otherwise, there would be high elk mortality every winter. And people didn’t want that either.

The problem is that wolves have been allowed to expand their range beyond what was originally intended. But wolves always receive more negative publicity than other predators. Coyotes cause more economic losses to livestock than wolves, but coyotes aren’t protected, so ranchers can shoot them anytime they want. Ranchers hate feeling like their hands are tied when it comes to protecting their cattle from wolves.