Wolf | Yellowstone National Park
Microfiction | Part One
Drowsy, he rises in a wide-open expanse with no recollection of how he arrived here. Shaking his body to clear grogginess, his claws dig into wild dirt. Energy of this new wilderness changes his matter as the spirits of his ancestors celebrate his return. Fresh earth fills his nostrils, kindling a visceral, primitive hunger– for exploration and marrow.
Primal instincts ignite, pulsing through his spirit as a compulsive howl gathers in his throat and pours out, piercing the twilight. His outcry declares his place in this new territory. The forest rejoices as a chorus of howls responds, confirming his belonging.
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Between 1914 and 1926, 136 wolves were removed from Yellowstone Park, completely altering the entire ecosystem– from the flora to the birds and the flow of rivers.
1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed, and the gray wolf was one of the first species listed as endangered, mandating protection and recovery planning.
In 1995, eight gray wolves were reintroduced to the wild in Yellowstone, and through the years, the balance has been restored to the ecosystem.
Information gathered from the following articles:
Clark, Jamie Rappaport. "We Were Wrong About Wolves, Here's Why." Defenders of Wildlife. March 21, 2020. https://defenders.org/blog/2020/03/we-were-wrong-about-wolves-heres-why
Farquhar, Brodie. "Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone." Yellowstone National Park Trips. June 30, 2021. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem/
About the Creator
Kristen Balyeat
Words fly to me on the wind, bump into me as I'm strolling the city, splash me in the face while I rest by the river, and shake me awake in the middle of the night—I’m humbly one of the vessels they use to come to life.
Also, i love you:)
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Comments (18)
Beautiful
Fantastic Kristen... Very well written!!!
I could feel every moment of this piece. Gorgeous writing, Kristen. I love that you highlighted both perspectives. Just wonderful :)
I love wolves. We live in the midst of several packs, and every so often get qa glimpse or to hear a haunting, beautiful howl. Thank you for writing this, and including the factual information. ❤️
I just love that you wrote this from two very different perspectives. I love wolves, they are magnificent creatures in so many ways. It’s on my bucket list to visit Yellowstone someday. Beautifully done!
This made me feel so emotional! So happy to read from the wolf's POV!
A brave new world, looking at this moment from a different perspective. Oh yeah, baby, I'm back!
super cool. Love this mini-series! You took a real-life issue and made it into something artistic. Beautifully done 👏
nice
That primal call is the most energizing thing the wilderness can give us. I once heard (and watched) a pack of 6 month olds ((or so) exchanging howls with the elders who were up a mountainside in Jasper. Their voices were cracking! 🐺
I love wolves. So, this was a winner from the start. Your handle on descriptions is sublime and I loved the background information with the story too. Bravo, Kristen!
Love this one with the wolf's POV. I remember reading about the removal of wolves and the deposit of the gray wolves. Great work!
Excellent use of words leading up to the howling moment. Loved it.
Beautiful wolves, so misunderstood, much like our dingoes here in Australia. This is a microfiction of a different calibre -- educational, respectful, and so elegantly written.
I read the second part first I guess 🤣. Great story here, and I love how you changed perspective in the second one
I love this. I hope it places! The reintroduction of wolves there and its posotive impact left a real impression on me growing up, and you've written about it beautifully.
We almost did it again… I posted a werewolf micro this morning. 🐺 I’m so fascinated by wolves as part of the ecosystem, as totem animals in spirituality, and in folklore. I love that you’re bringing awareness to this.
I see what you did there! Great job, Kristen!