BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 12, 2026
Prior to European colonization, gray wolves and mountain lions could be found across the entire North American continent. However, once settlement began, both species were wiped out in the eastern U.S. because humans saw them as a threat to their safety and livelihoods. Despite our deeply strained relationship with these animals, they are necessary for a functioning ecosystem. I believe we should bring them back. Deer populations have exploded in the absence of their top predators. As a result, deer damage the environment through overbrowsing. Bloated populations make deer-vehicle collisions frequent, causing billions of dollars in damages and the loss of hundreds of lives annually. It is unfair to argue that these animals are pests simply because they are performing their roles in the ecosystem. Their ecological benefits vastly outweigh their negative effects on humans. ~ Brendan McGowan, junior Honors College student, University of Maine