Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Wolves have a long history of association with humans, having been despised and hunted in most pastoral communities because of their attacks on livestock. In this course, we explore the effects of their eradication and reintroduction on the environment, in particular Yellowstone National Park. Wolf pack migration into Oregon and California and the delisting of wolves and importance of the endangered species act are reviewed in detail, and its implications for the environment and global warming is analyzed as well. We also explore the ancestry of wolves and dogs, their evolution, and the basis of the companionship of dogs. Other topics include wolf biology and biochemistry, trophic cascade, chaos theory, wolf pack behavior, wolf-human interactions and wolf mythology. Refreshments will be served.