Why did wolves howl around pioneers' homes or cover wagons?

Answer 1

It was popular to use the howling of wolves in cinematic representations of the western frontier to signify danger outside the camp or the wild nature of the environment, so your perception of howling wolves may in fact be a sign of this popular culture reference rather than reality.

However, it is also possible that there was more wolf-howling. The population of wolves has dropped dramatically in the American west, due in part to human expansion into their habitats, and also due to a reduced amount of herd animals that they feed on. Wolves used to be much common than they are today - where a wild wolf is actually very rare to find (there are about 3,000 wolves in the US as of 2001-2002). It makes sense that if there were more wolves, then driving a covered wagon or setting up a homestead would have exposed the settler to more wolves back then than it would today. Look at the second link below to see the current range of wolf populations compared to the historic range which is much, much larger. Thus, you'd hear them howling more.

As for the reason that wolves howl - in general - you can find some interesting information at the link below. In short, it has to do with the social nature of wolves and the pack-framework of their social interaction. Wolves howl to communicate with each other and with the pack.

Answer 2

you have it backwards, pioneers moved into the places wolves howl.....that simple and that sad......took just as much time to displace the wolves as it did the native americans...
genocide on two indigenous species that were just minding their own business.

Answer 3

because they didn't know the words.

Answer 4

food. living or dead, they wanted food