[00:07] Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places in the modern world to observe the complex processes that shape natural ecosystems, and how one change can trigger many unexpected ones.
[00:18] In the early 1900's, because Yellowstone's wolves were considered a menace by humans; the animals were deliberately killed to reduce their population.
[00:26] Once the wolves, Yellowstone's top predator, had been eliminated, the elk population surged, and devoured sprouting aspen and cottonwood trees in Yellowstone's northern range.
[00:37] In 1995, in an effort to control the elk population 'naturally', Gray wolves were reintroduced from Canada into Yellowstone National Park.
[00:47] As expected, the wolves preyed on the elk herds, by now cutting their numbers in half. But unexpected changes occurred as well.
[00:54] As a consequence, aspen and cottonwood trees are again growing tall.
[00:59] Their regrowth has allowed the beaver population to increase. Small beaver dams have reappeared, and the ponds behind them allow trout to flourish.
[01:07] More succulent plants survive in the ponds' wetlands, providing critical food for grizzly bears as they emerge from hibernation.
[01:15] The cascading changes taking place at Yellowstone National Park vividly illustrate how one action ripples through an entire ecosystem. Nature is healthiest where a web of interconnected life thrives.
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