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Myth: Wolves are dangerous
to humans.
Fact: You stand a better chance of getting hit by a meteorite than killed by a wolf.
Although wolves are large, powerful animals that could kill humans, they do not. According to wolf expert Dr. L. David Mech,
there is no documented case of a healthy wild wolf killing a human in North America. By comparison, more than 20 people are
killed and 3 million attacked each year by man's best friend, the domestic dog.
Myth:
Wolves will eliminate or substantially reduce prey species.
Fact: Wolves and large grazing animals
lived side-by-side for tens of thousands of years before the first settlers arrived. Food availability and weather regulate
wolf populations. When their prey is scarce, wolves suffer too. They breed less frequently, have fewer litters, and may even
starve to death. Wolves often enhance prey populations by culling weak and sick animals from the gene pool, leaving only the
strongest animals to reproduce.
Myth: The Endangered Species Act prevents the control of wolves
that prey on livestock.
Fact: Both "endangered" wolves (such as those in northwestern Montana)
and "threatened" wolves (such as those in Minnesota) are routinely controlled when they prey on livestock by the United States
Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal Damage Control (ADC) units. If wolves are reintroduced into the Northeast Forest
Region, they will not fall under full endangered species protection, but rather a special designation that allows land-owners
more flexibility in controlling problem animals.
Myth: Wolves kill thousands of livestock
each year, forcing farmers out of business.
Fact: Farmers are compensated for livestock lost
to predation. By increasing the amount of compensation, wolf kills by farmers would more likely be reported and total wolf
kills by farmers would be reduced. Wolves do not kill thousands of livestock per year anyways... the numbers are MUCH lower.
Myth: A large percentage of wolves have rabies.
Fact: Paranoia
still exists around the idea of rabid wolves. Contrary to popular belief, very few wolves contract rabies. Most incidents
of rabies occur in raccoons, skunks, foxes or bats. In Alberta Canada in 1952, one rabid wolf was discovered. As a result
of paranoia, in the next four years, 4,200 wolves were poisoned. As well, over 50,000 foxes, 35,000 coyotes, and 1,850 bears
also were killed by this non-target poisoning.
"Because we all share this planet earth,
we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.
-Dalai Lama
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