Kelsey Schroeder- Yellowstone Mug

Handmade ceramic mug featuring hand sculpted wolf and landscape scene inspired by Yellowstone National Park. Approximately 17 oz

This collection was inspired by national parks in the US and endangered species that are protected by those parks.  The national parks provide crucial conservation efforts for numerous species of animals and plants through habitat protection, recovery and reintroduction programs, and scientific research for further protection efforts. Protecting the species within the parks not only preserves them for future generations, but also helps to maintain the overall health and long term resiliency of the parks' ecosystems.  

The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone has been a crucial effort to reestablish the balance within the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.  When an ecosystem loses an apex predator species the effects trickle down to every part of the ecosystem as a whole.  Gray wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone in 1995 and began to help control the elk population.  Since their reintroduction the park has seen a resurgence of quaking aspen.  While it may not seem like the two are related, the large elk population feeds on a variety of plants including young tree shoots.  With wolves present again in the park and feeding on the elk the aspen have a chance to mature and we are now seeing a new generation of aspen trees that haven't been seen in 80 years.  Humans hunted wolves in Yellowstone out of fear, misinformation, and governmental eradication programs but now with these new populations of wolves in the park we can start to see one element of the ecosystem thriving again.  Each species is crucial to the balance of these most beautiful places and it is up to us to be sure they are protected.

50% of the proceeds from this mug will be donated to the National Parks Foundation to help their conservation efforts and preservation of the sacred places that make up our national parks.  To learn more about their work please visit www.nationalparks.org

To see more of Kelsey's creations be sure to follow her on Instagram @kelseyceramics

All materials used are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.  However, to best protect the fine details I recommend hand washing.