Listed below are questions to get your discussion started. Use as many or as few as you would like. If you would like more background information to use in your discussion, click here.
- Was the government "right" when it carried out plans to eliminate wolves from the southwestern United States? Why or why not?
- How have wolves traditionally been portrayed in our culture? (Hint: think about fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs.) Do you believe that this is an accurate representation of wolves? Explain.
- What did John Muir mean by his statement: When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world? How does this apply to the wolf controversy in Arizona?
- Both sides presented arguments about the economics surrounding the wolves. Do you believe that free-roaming wolves will help or hurt Arizona’s economy? Why?
- Is the wellbeing of humans more important or totally exclusive than that of other creatures? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, should wolves be allowed to roam free as they once did or should they remain extirpated from the wilds of Arizona? Explain.
- Managing endangered species and other wildlife often involves prioritizing projects due to limited funding. What other species need our help? What criteria would you use to decide which projects get funding? Why?