how dangerous are wolves really?

Question

...to humans I mean

how much of it is legend and how much of a dangerous animal to encounter are they really?

is it true that wolves have been re-introduced into the Scottish highlands, if so whats the advantage of this?

Answer 1

~Well, I wouldn't go out of my way to sleep with a pack of starving and rabid wolves, but other than in fairy tales, they don't attack people unless provoked and livestock, if it is small enough, is eaten only rarely. As to their benefit to the ecosystem, I suggest you look to a reliable source for more valid information than I'm inclined to offer.

Werewolves are another story entirely. Just ask Pete Stampfel, Steve Weber, Lon Chaney and Michael Landon. Michael J. Fox doesn't count.

Answer 2

Overall no wolves are not a problem with humans... unless it is with the livestock humans own.

But between humans and just wolves there is not much of an issue. When push comes to shove there has only been one recorded attack and death of a human by a wolf (no rabid) in the US. Though that is not to say that attacks did not happen back when this land was more, native lets say.

Wolves have a natural fear of humans thanks to what humans have done to them over the years. When push comes to shove a wolf, or even a pack will decide to stay clear of humans rather than attack. In all reality that is for the best. Due to the big bad wolf stories over the years wolves have a bad rap, not to mention the problems they have with ranchers out west. If the wolves stay away that means far less problems on both sides.

As far as wolves being reintroduced, it is a good idea in just about any location in the world. For the most part where the wolf species of the world live they tend to be one of the top preds. When you remove such a thing the rest of the chain gets thrown off and life goes unchecked and can have many problems. With the reintroduction of wolves it allows a natural predator to be placed back into the food chain and allows life to move more on a natural basis with less human interaction (ie: hunting, relocation of species, etc).

Answer 3

I live in Idaho, where wolf packs live near my home. There are numerous encounters between wolves and people, and I have seen wolves several times at a distance.

Based on the incidents reported in Idaho, wolves are most dangerous to people when they are with domestic dogs out in the wilds. Wolves also can become habitual predators on livestock, and there have been a few dozen wolves that have been killed by animal control officers to reduce predation on sheep and cattle.

Wolves go way out of their way to attack domestic dogs. The closest encounters between people and wolves have occurred when people were with their dogs when the wolves attacked the dog. In several instances, the wolves have attacked dogs within 10-20 feet of a nearby human. There is no instance where the wolves turned to attack a human, but the wolves showed no fear of humans in some of these attacks. A human might have a good chance of being attacked if they tried to interfere when wolves are attacking a dog.

Otherwise, wolves are very smart, and very observant. They will sometimes follow a person who is outdoors for several hours--presumably to evaluate whether the person would be a good prey item. Wolves exhibit this same behavior when watching elk, deer, and moose, to look for signs that an animal might be wounded or have some sort of debilitation that would make them easy to catch. So, a person traveling by themselves in the backcountry could possibly become wolf food if the person was having trouble walking or for some reason looked like they were having difficulty. Wolves have made several test runs at people after following them to see how the people respond. So far, reported encounters of this nature have been short staring contests, and the wolves have withdrawn after a brief encounter.

I Don't know anything about wolves in Scotland.

Answer 4

If I remember correctly. full-blooded wolves have never attacked humans. Typically, if there's a wolf-attack, it's part dog. Wolves can help control deer populations, and many species are threatened (almost endangered.)

Ok... I looked it up, and it says that there hasn't been a documented killing by a healthy wolf on a human, but there has been some cases where wolves have attacked people. but it's very rare.

With most wild animals, humans aren't their source of food. They don't attack unless they feel threatened. So. it's not as dangerous as you probably would think.

I also found that there is a push to re-introduce wolves to Scotland because they originally were from that area and then are extinct in that area. They're trying to balance out the ecology--there's too many red deer/

Answer 5

Well, If they smell you're Flesh/Blood/Meat They will come, but if you have a shelter or sleeping in the woods and no injuries then you don't need to worry at all, they are not dangerous if you have no injuries but they are if you try and hurt them. Idea!: Do not try to kill Baby Wolves They're Mom/Pack is nearby.
So Be Careful Don't Ever Try To Hurt Wolves! Unless They Attack You First!

Answer 6

ill be short about this.
the wolf is a cunning hunter and the pack hunt as a single unit ,selecting the weak and the old as there target and cuting it off from the herd .
this is benificial to the herd as with the sick and weak eaten there is more food ect for the healthy .

as fore threat to humans ,man is not the wolves chosen prey ,bu make no mistake ,the wolf is a specialist in survival of the pack and if need be to protect or to feed the pack they will kill a man

Answer 7

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Not yet, though they are looking into the idea, along with reintroducing the European Beaver & Wild Boar.

Answer 8

well wolves are like every other animal they need their space because they will think you are a threat so when you get close they defend themselves by first warning you then defending then attacking. they are not likely to attack humans unless we are disturbing them or they have a mental, physical, disease problem.
wolves are suppose to be the the predator in a food chain.so they are suppose to be there they where there in the first place.

i know this myself because i have a interest in zoology
humans usually poke into everything because it is who we are we are learners beyond ourselves so by placing wolves back to where they were it improves the environment

Answer 9

wolves are generally dangerous in packs, if you have a lone wolf, it's pretty easy to scare off, wolves hunt in packs which is what makes them efficient killers and hunters...if you encounter a rabid lone wolf, you might have things to worry about...

Answer 10

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