Wolves are a very sensitive subject for many, the reason is mainly based on myths.
Humans are normally not prey to wolves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attacks_on_humans
Wolves serve an important role, weeding out older and sick prey thereby strengthening the overall condition of that prey. They also feed other types of animals with their “leftovers”, bits of carcass they leave behind after a hunt. The role of this efficient predator, when given the its natural habitat, is essential.
The great majority of fatal attacks on humans were by rabid wolves. There were few fatal predatory attacks on humans and none in North America. No one was killed when wolves attacked defensively. Moreover, examining records of the last 50 years the researchers could only find cases of 17 people killed in Europe and Russia and none in North America.
http://www.wolftrust.org.uk/a-wkp5-linnell-results.html
I somehow fail to embrace the belief that wolves, unlike bears or any other predatory animal would find it within themselves to bypass a human for a meal should the opportunity occur. I'd submit that there simply weren't any survivors of such incidents to report them. With wolf populations growing to this extent, I can easily believe that such myths will be dispelled in short order. It's already happening. The reason it was more wide spread is due to the dramatic reduction of the population along with their usual prey.
‘Wolves serve an important role, weeding out older and sick prey thereby strengthening the overall condition of that prey”
I think you’re the one that has fallen for myth. The reality is they’ll eat whatever they can catch be it human, dog, cow, sheep, elk, deer, or cougar. And if they aren’t hungry they’ll just rip the guts out without killing it.
They breed at a very high rate and are decimating the elk populations.
“Wolves serve an important role...”
So do coyotes... who are already stalking people.
Hey, let’s add another preditor to the list - so the lefty bike riders and hikers now not only have to worry about being taken down by bears, mt. lions, and coyotes, but wolves as well.
This is great news for the lefties who believe guns kill people and only cops should be allowed to carry. Sounds like unarmed biking and hiking will soon become a lefty right of passage...