Tom McDonnell

From 1900 to 1930, gray wolves were hunted almost to extinction. With the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the U.S. government began reintroducing wolves into their native hunting grounds because scientists believed predators like wolves play a key role in ecosystem health. In the following viewpoint, Tom McDonnell, from the American Sheep Industry Association, maintains that wolf reintroduction programs have harmed farmers and ranchers and are actually a way to control land use in undeveloped areas. Furthermore, he asserts, wolves are not endangered.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to McDonnell, how many livestock losses did Minnesota experience in 1989?
2. In the author’s opinion, what are the problems with wolf compensation programs?
3. Why does the USFWS want to reduce road density, according to McDonnell"

If it...