Rocky Mountain National Park was once home to wolves, grizzly bears, wolverines, and lynx. With the re-introduction of wolves in Colorado in 2023, a wolf or two has roamed, but not yet stayed, in the west side of the park.
The possibility of wolves in the park is an example of how wilding or rewilding might occur. Wilding is defined as a form of ecological restoration aimed at increasing biodiversity and restoring natural processes. The idea of rewilding aims to reduce human influence on ecosystems.
Although 95% of the park is considered wilderness area, we are more like an urban park since we are so close to major population areas to the East of us (i.e., Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins). Rewilding Rocky Mountain National Park is an aspirational idea. The possibility of wilding requires numerous considerations.
Bringing back keystone species (like wolves or beavers) can play a critical role in ecosystem health. A cool concept of rewilding is the possibility of allowing nature to manage itself without human intervention. Unfortunately, that approach is almost impossible given the way that people (and their relationship to wildlife) need to be educated within the park. Wildlife do not see human-imposed geographic boundaries. Rewilding, nevertheless, would enable the creation of wildlife corridors to link fragmented habitats, allowing animals to migrate and adapt.
I have appreciated coming to understand why rewilding is important. A wide variety of plant and animal life is essential for helping ecosystems flourish. Having keystone species like wolves help regulate the food web (e.g., wolves can be the managers of deer and elk populations). Unfortunately, the wolves introduced to Colorado should be the predators of wild animals and not the domestic ones.
I applaud the philosophy of (re)wilding even though it has many challenges. It invites a shift in perspective from controlling nature to partnering with it. It promotes the possibility of healing the natural world and people’s connection to it. It is a big idea worth considering.
I love the concept, however worry about people being able to accept the results of rewilding. It is almost a NIMBY proposition for most folks…. ok until it impacts you personally. I continue to hope for its acceptance rather than the human domination we try to impose on our natural world. We would be so much better off if we let nature call the shots…