extirpation and recovery | attitudes | ecological role | northeast habitat | genetics debate

Attitudes

In many myths and fairy tales, wolves have long been associated with evil, savagery, deception, and danger. They have been seen as a threat to livestock and as competition for game animals and habitat. These beliefs have encouraged the elimination of wolves from their historic ranges worldwide—even today, many people hold negative attitudes toward wolves and would like to prevent their recovery.

Historically, wolf attacks on humans have been extremely rare. Those that have been documented occurred because wolves had rabies or were habituated to people. No person has been killed by healthy, wild wolves in the United States since records started in the early 1800s.

Livestock can be easy prey for all predators, and ranchers and farmers do suffer some losses. At the same time, other causes (like weather, disease, and calving problems) cause far more livestock deaths than predation by wolves. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in the Northern Rockies region in 2001, wolves were responsible for only .03% of cattle and 1.3% of sheep deaths from all causes and 1% of cattle and 0.4% of sheep deaths due to predators.

Wolves do hunt and kill the same animals humans do (notably deer and elk). However, there is little evidence to support contentions that wolves cause unhealthy decreases in the size of herds and reduce hunting opportunities for humans. For example, Minnesota had its highest record deer harvest in 2003 and its second highest in 2004, while at the same time supporting approximately 2000 wolves. Factors like harsh winter weather, traffic, disease, and parasite outbreaks have a far greater impact than wolves, which kill a relatively small number of animals.

Better understanding of the wolf’s complex social structure and critical ecological role have reduced wolf-human conflict and made the wolf’s recovery possible. Improved livestock husbandry practices and rancher compensation programs have also been very important. At the same time, surveys indicate growing public support for the restoration and protection of wolves. A 1998 poll by the National Wildlife Federation showed 76% of Americans in favor of wolf restoration efforts. In a 2002 poll conducted for the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, 63% of New England residents said it’s important to reintroduce the wolf to restore the balance of nature.

But threats remain, and much more work is needed to increase tolerance and understanding of wolves and wolf behavior. Such efforts are important both in local communities and when states develop wolf recovery, management, and protection plans.