Scared To Death Summary

In “Scared to Death”, author, Ed Yong, describes the relationship of grey wolves and elk in Yellowstone National Park. Studies conducted by John Laundre, an ecologist at the State University of New York at Oswego, reveal what they call, “a landscape of fear”. Laundre explains this term by saying, “in predator-prey relationships it’s not the actual killing that has the most influence on prey behavior- it’s living in constant fear”. Over the course of the text, Yong tries to explain how, like humans, animals too experience long-term psychological stress, which has an effect on the whole ecosystem. After being wolf free for almost 70 years, Yellowstone National Park was reintroduced to wolves in January of 1995. Laundre took this opportunity not to focus on the …show more content…
Scientists have expanded this study to animals such as, sharks and dugongs, and spiders and grasshoppers. This is more complex than what it seems, for the fact that it contradicts the accepted beliefs and views of ecology. The ideas, presented in this study, challenge the beliefs that animals only experience short bursts of fear, such as that in a chase, and that long-term stress is only present in humans and other primates. Yong describes some of the ecological changes in the ecosystem at Yellowstone National Park since the return of the wolves. He explains that, “More saplings survive, now that intimidated elk are less likely to nibble their lower branches, and the older trees have doubled or even tripled in height” (Yong, 2) This had a ripple effect causing an increase in beaver colonies due to taller trees. More beavers then lead to more habitats available for animals such as: fish, amphibians, and birds. These effects have traditionally been accepted as a result or consequence of predation; however, scientists are now referring to these as part of “the landscape of fear”, which can help them to better understand