Wolves once inhabited the state of Colorado, however over a century and a half ago the species was eradicated. Ecologists believe the lack of wolves in Colorado is an ecological imbalance. The Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund is fighting to create a 2020 ballot measure that would allow the reintroduction of the gray wolf to the state west of the continental divide. Their goal is to create a plan that can adequately manage and restore wolves in the Colorado ecosystem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A rancher would oppose this bill because of the safety risks it would present to the farm's livestock. Livestock provides farmers with a livelihood and for this reason is considered one of their most valuable assets. The gray wolf is classified as an apex predator because it has no natural predators. Wolves live in packs. Packs can range in size from five to eight members and have social structures that enhance survival and reproduction. The primary prey is made up of ungulates. This poses a big risk to ranchers since these animals consist of elk, deer, and bison. Domesticated species such as cattle, sheep and goats are also common prey for the wolf. Ecosystems are made up of multiple trophic levels. The trophic level of an organism determines its position in the food chain. In terrestrial ecosystems, photosynthetic plants are at the base level while apex predators are at the top. Wolf reintroduction can cause trophic cascades. In previous wolf reintroductions, trophic cascades have been shown to be positive for the biodiversity of those ecosystems. However, biotic factors such as predation and competition can pose a threat to the abundance of a species and cause disturbances in the food chain. The extent of their effect cannot be predicted, so strict measures must be implemented to manage the migration and growth of wolves to ensure safety in areas that lie outside the national park boundaries. If wolves were introduced, they would most likely dominate the competition and create a further imbalance in the ecosystem's biodiversity. A drastic change in a biotic factor such as competition can alter where a species exists in a given ecosystem. Colorado has no definitive plan to compensate farmers for wolf-caused deaths of their livestock. The state of Oregon has regulations regarding compensation for livestock killed by a wolf. These rules establish that the breeder must demonstrate that the animal was consumed by a wolf and immediately report the incident. The farmer must also secure the crime scene so that wildlife officers can access the situation. Another qualification for compensation is that the rancher must demonstrate to a committee that he has done everything in his power to demonstrate non-lethal methods of protecting his farmland and livestock from wolves. If wolves are to be introduced into Colorado, the state must develop specific regulations, similar to those in Oregon, that guarantee farmers compensation for the death of their livestock caused by wolves. It is also important that ranchers and those making up the bill agree on the value of certain livestock. Livestock can be more valuable as they age, so getting compensation for their original price may not be fair. If the state were to implement this measure for livestock owners, then ranchers and hunters would have to respect the presence of_(2020).