Wolves in the News: Reintroduction, Ecosystems, Management, Hunting, Politics, Protection

Keywords: wolves, wolf news coverage, wolf discourses
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 65

Abstract

Since wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park in 1995, wolves have entered the collective consciousness of the public regarding their place in the modern world. With the success of that introduction, management of wolves as they roam beyond protected areas has become an important issue in many places in the U.S. In the past ten years, the number of news stories about wolves has increased as wolf-human interactions increase. In this in-person paper presentation, I will review what has been reported in the media about gray and Mexican wolves since 2010 as an environment-society relation, and point out some of the emerging discourses constructed about them, via a systematic look through media databases. Some questions that arise include, “Should we rewild?”; “Do wolves really contribute to a healthier ecosystem?”; “What level of hunting should be allowed as part of wolf management, and where?”; “Who gets to decide the fate of wolves?”; “Is it a good idea to let the voters decide about wolves?”; “Should wolves still be considered endangered?”.