People fear wolves. While some of their fear is sensible, wolves actually have more to fear from people than people do from wolves. Although wolves are strong and fierce, wolf attacks on humans are very rare. In nearly all cases, they occur only when people provoke or corner wolves. People, on the other hand, have regularly baited and trapped wolves from the earliest of times. For various reasons, farmers, ranchers, and trappers in North America have all sought to reduce the wolf population. By 1950, there were almost no wolves left in the United States. Finally, in 1974, Congress granted gray wolves a protected status.

Question

People fear wolves. While some of their fear is sensible, wolves actually have more to fear from people than people do from wolves. Although wolves are strong and fierce, wolf attacks on humans are very rare. In nearly all cases, they occur only when people provoke or corner wolves. People, on the other hand, have regularly baited and trapped wolves from the earliest of times. For various reasons, farmers, ranchers, and trappers in North America have all sought to reduce the wolf population. By 1950, there were almost no wolves left in the United States. Finally, in 1974, Congress granted gray wolves a protected status.

What saved the gray wolf population of North America?

(1 point)
Responses

People stopped baiting and trapping gray wolves.
People stopped baiting and trapping gray wolves.

People avoided gray wolves out of fear.
People avoided gray wolves out of fear.

Congress granted gray wolves protected status.
Congress granted gray wolves protected status.

Gray wolves became strong and fierce. '

Answer 1

The gray wolf population of North America was saved primarily because Congress granted them protected status in 1974. This meant that they were no longer legally hunted, baited, or trapped by people. In addition to this, people also became more aware of the importance of preserving the wolf population and started avoiding them out of fear. However, it was the protected status given by Congress that played a crucial role in saving the gray wolves.