Implications Post

If the issue of the aerial shooting of wolves is not resolved, there are many consequences that could occur. The most prominent being that wolves may become endangered or extinct. This fate, however, would occur far into the future, due to the fact that the wolf population is very large in Alaska because of the ideal climate. On the other hand, if this important predatory animal is reduced, or possibly eliminated, the populations of their prey will be sure to rise to unmanageable levels. This is a certainty, not a prediction, as studies from the seventies (the longest running predator-prey study) proved there was an unquestionable relationship between the populations of moose and wolves. Additionally, the prey of wolves, specifically moose, will become more likely to quickly spread disease among their population because weaker moose will have less of a chance of being eliminated by wolves. Disease carrying ticks may also become more of a problem if the trend of killing wolves continues. Lastly, if the wolf population is severely decrease, which will allow for a much larger moose population, the Alaskan land is likely to become overgrazed as a result of the moose looking for food to sustain life.