More About Decomposers

In science class, we learned about decomposers. Decomposers are organisms that break down the dead bodies of other organisms for energy. A few examples are bacteria, earthworms, and mushrooms. By breaking down these dead organisms, they are "recycling" nutrients. Some new facts I learned from http://www.nhptv.org/NatureWorks/nwep11b.htm, was that decomposers recycle the dead organisms into chemical nutrients like carbon and nitrogen which go back into the earth. I also learned that there are over 1,800 species of earthworms, and that they loosen soil so air can circulate. This helps plants grow.

Gray Wolves Back on Endangered List!

On Tuesday October 14th, the U.S. court decided to put the gray wolf of the northern Rocky Moutains back on the endangered species list. Back in April, groups of people went to protest that the government should put the gray wolf back on the endangered list after the government had taken them off the list two months before. The groups did this beause taking them off the list would result in the shooting of wolves by farmers who think they are a threat to their livestock. The government had thought that the reintroduction had been going well, but some people thought otherwise. In 1974, wolves were disappearing. In 1995, 66 wolves were released into Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, in hopes that they would thrive. Now there are about 1,200 gray wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

I'm glad the population of gray wolves is increasing because I think they are amazing animals. When my family and I went to Yellowstone two summers ago, I had heard all about the reintroduction of wolves around the area. I was interested to learn that they were in danger, and that many farmers saw gray wolves as a threat to their livestock. I just hope that one day, gray wolves will come off the endangered species list for good. For more info, go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081014/sc_afp/usenvironmentwildlifewolves;_ylt=Amq5Sn7llYuCg0dCzCemhQ8PLBIF