How to survive a wolf attack. When and why do wolves attack people and how often? What to do when meeting a wolf?

In the magazine “Hunting and Hunting Management”, No. 7 for 1980, an article by V. Grigoriev “Save from the wolf” was published, in which the author tells how hunters of the Pitkyaranta region of the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic try to save their hounds from wolf teeth.

I must say that at one time my comrades and I, not knowing the experience of the Pitkäranta hunters, also used red ribbons, attaching them to the collar. But they decided that this was not very effective. The main disadvantage of such a collar is its fragility, since the ribbons, touching branches and grass, quickly become frayed and break off. In addition, by themselves they do not protect a dog if it is attacked by a wolf, which for some reason is not afraid of red ribbons.

For five years we have been using collars that may have less of a deterrent effect than fluttering red ribbons (although they are painted red), but still provide reliable protection. most the dog's neck (especially the throat) from wolf bites.

In October 1981, my friend and I were hunting along a black trail, about a kilometer from a fairly large village. In the middle of the day, a medium-sized Russian survivor picked up the white hare and chased it. Suddenly the rut stopped, and we heard a short bickering, as if two dogs were fighting. Then everything calmed down, and after a while the owner saw that the survivor was galloping at a leisurely pace, looking back from time to time, galloping towards the owner, and from behind, 3-5 meters away, not lagging behind and not approaching, he was being pursued by a large seasoned wolf of good fatness. It seemed that the wolf doubled bigger than a dog. After the shots were fired, the animal disappeared (the shooting was carried out with shot). The owner examined the survivor and found no signs of bites. The hunt continued.

It is likely that the survivor remained alive and unharmed only thanks to the collar.

The fact is that in addition to protective plates and spikes, a Bottom part a paper cartridge into which black powder is poured and burned before hunting. Many years of experience have convinced us that the smell of gunpowder practically does not interfere with the work of the hound. Perhaps, when moving, he seems to remain behind and does not exert any influence. harmful action to the sense of smell. For those who are interested in our collar, we provide a brief description and drawings.

The basis of the collar can be a ribbon made of leather or any other material, sufficiently flexible and durable, about 100-120 mm wide. Plates made of any metal with a thickness of 0.5-0.8 mm are attached to the base using rivets, screws and nuts with M4 or M5 threads.

When assembling the collar, tighten the screws so that their heads are embedded in the base material to half their height. The use of rivets and screws (not just rivets or screws) is not accidental. Initially we installed screws across the entire width of the collar in four rows. (The protruding part of the screw serves as a spike). The desire to install as many spikes as possible is understandable. However, half (two rows) had to be abandoned and replaced with rivets. It turned out that the dog was breaking its ears on the spikes located on the collar closer to the head. We also had to abandon sharpening the protruding part of the screws to a sharp cone, since damage to the dog’s paws is possible when it first tries to free itself from the collar, and even later when the dog scratches its neck with its hind leg. It should be noted that the dog gets used to the collar very quickly. Apparently, putting on a collar is perceived by the hound as a signal for the upcoming hunt, and for the sake of it she is ready to endure some inconvenience.

During hunting, if necessary, you should remove small branches, grass and other debris stuck between the collar and neck, and be sure to check that the ends of the collar are securely connected - otherwise you risk losing it. The length of the collar must be adjusted to the neck size of each dog separately, so that it fits tightly around the neck. You should not be afraid if the collar is put on even with some tension. In this case, the fur is wrinkled and the folds of the skin are tightened, which, according to our observations, does not interfere with the dog’s breathing.

Wolves are animals living in a pack, and by this they can represent serious danger person.
During the hungry and cold seasons, winter and autumn, the likelihood of a wolf attacking a person increases. The wolf is a rather smart animal and knows that a person, especially armed with even a simple stick, stronger than a wolf. And therefore, a pack of wolves attacks a person only in the most desperate cases, from severe hunger. And lone wolves can only attack if they are sick with rabies or if a she-wolf is protecting her wolf cubs.
Of course, there are cases of wolf attacks on people, but they are not frequent and are rather the exception. In most cases, a wolf will not attack even a lone traveler in the forest, unless, of course, it senses that the traveler is severely wounded and exhausted. But still, one should not downplay the danger that can arise when meeting a wolf.

What to do when meeting a wolf

When meeting any enemy, do not panic, do not show your fear and weakness. If a battle is inevitable, fight to the end and you will definitely win and survive.
One of the rules when encountering various predators is not to run away (the exception is when you run a few meters to guaranteed shelter and rescue).

You cannot run away when attacked by a dog, just as you cannot run away when attacked by a wolf. You still won’t be able to escape, especially in the forest, even if you are a master of sports in the 100-meter dash. When trying to escape, the wolf gets the feeling that they are afraid of him, he instantly understands his superiority and strength. And even if he had no intention of attacking before, and the meeting was accidental, he will most likely rush after you. The same thing happens with dogs, bears and many other predators. If you start to run away, the wolf will catch up with you in no time and attack you from behind, and knock you to the ground and bite you to death. This brings up another rule: never turn your back on a wolf; this is especially important when meeting a pack of wolves. There will definitely be someone who will go around you and attack you from behind. News effective protection You can only get away from the wolf in front of you. More important rule, stay on your feet. If a wolf knocks you to the ground, you won’t be able to deal with him without a gun or a knife. And being on your feet you can give a serious fight back. And besides, while you are on your feet, the wolf knows that you can pose a danger, and when the wolf is on top, even a wound cannot always stop him from finishing off the victim.

When meeting a wolf, it is better to avoid fighting

When meeting a wolf, you can and should try to avoid a fight. If the wolf and the pack do not show obvious aggression towards you, you can try to retreat, the main thing is not to turn your back on them. Have an axe, knife, stick with you, prepare the “weapon” for action, take it out, take it conveniently, but it is better to do all movements slowly and without sudden movements.
If you can quickly climb a tree, climb it. Being two meters above the ground, wolves will not reach you. And they won’t wait long either, they’ll circle around and leave. You can try to scare away the wolf, as I already wrote in another article about dog attacks, animals are often afraid of creatures larger than them in size. And only mad or trained dogs do not feel fear of a person with a stick. Everyone else, regardless of breed, experiences fear and fears for their lives just as much as you. Therefore, when meeting wolves, take a large stick and try to wave it, shouting loudly, creating a menacing appearance. If the flock is not large, this will scare it.
If a wolf attack is inevitable, stand with your back to the dense thickets, or better yet, lean your back against a tree. This way there will be additional emphasis and even if the wolf throws his full weight, he will not be able to knock you to the ground. Most likely, even if a pack attacks and you manage to fight off the first wolf and wound it, the rest will retreat and understand that they have a dangerous and strong enemy in front of them.

Weapons against the wolf

Naturally, if you have a firearm with you, there is nothing special to be afraid of, one or two shots and the pack of wolves is gone. But what to use for protection if you don’t have a firearm?
- Knife.
Any tourist should have a knife when going into the forest. The knife is excellent remedy protection, but you need to know how to use it, hit it quickly and hard, and hold it correctly in your hand so that it doesn’t jump off. And a knife is a weapon for direct contact. You will most likely only be able to hit a wolf with a knife when it has already bitten you. But there is an option to hold a knife in front of you and in front of the wolf’s mouth, and prevent it from biting you. If the wolf still fails to attack you, he will understand that the attack has failed and will retreat.
- Axe, kukri, machete.
Now on sale there are a huge number of tourist axes, kukris, machetes, which do not take up much space in your equipment, but can help out in a situation not only when chopping wood, but also when meeting with wolves. Defending against a wolf using, for example, a kukri will be much easier and more effective than using a knife. And one good blow to the head can completely neutralize the attacking predator.
- Gas canister.
Gas canister, universal remedy self-defense. It is better to buy a two-part gas canister, which in addition to tear gas contains pepper. This remedy works flawlessly (despite all sorts of old stories) on people and animals. By spraying a small cloud of pepper gas in front of you, you will permanently deprive the wolf of the desire to attack. If you manage to hit a wolf in the mouth, nose or eyes with a stream of gas, after a couple of seconds he will whine in pain and retreat, and will never approach a person again in his life. Animals at their own expense strong scent, often cannot stand the smell of perfume, citrus fruits, or smoke, so the irritating substance from a gas canister affects them even more than it does on humans. If the wind is blowing from you to a pack of wolves, you can spray the gas in advance; this will most likely disperse all the wolves.
- Fire and smoke.
To protect yourself from any predators in your parking lot, always light a fire. Having accidentally run into a pack of wolves, of course it’s impossible to light a fire, but I got into the habit of carrying a smoke bomb in my backpack pocket. You can make it yourself or buy it at a military store. Having pulled out the pin, a thick and unpleasant odor smoke. This smoke will not only give you a tactical advantage, but will also scare away the wolves.
- Stick.
A stick is the simplest, universal tool. If you are a completely unprepared tourist and you don’t have any of the above with you, take a stick with you on any hike. There shouldn’t be any difficulties with this; there are plenty of sticks in the forests).
You can use a stick to scare away a wolf early stage, and if the wolf’s attack has begun, then with the help of a stick it will most likely not be possible to inflict severe injuries on the predator, but it will be possible to keep him away from you. Also, in the forest, try to always move with a stick or pole. Using a stick, you can move the grass in front of you and reduce the likelihood of a snake bite. With the help of a stick, you can help yourself get out of the swamp, and in general, on long hikes, a third support for the body will not hurt.

Rabies among wolves

Rabies among wolves is not particularly common, but it does occur occasionally. Rabies most likely passes from foxes to wolves. This disease is not uncommon among foxes.
A healthy wolf and a mad wolf can be said to be different animals. Signs of rabies in a wolf are matted fur, a lowered head, a pressed tail, cloudy look. The important thing is that a rabid wolf always leaves the pack and lives life alone. Therefore, if you see several wolves, they are healthy. If the wolf is in daytime came to people, be especially careful, most likely the wolf is rabid, and such an animal can attack for no reason. In addition to the physical injuries that a rabid wolf can cause, there is a danger of contracting rabies. Therefore, when you see a wolf during the day in locality, you need to act immediately. Slow retreat tactics may not help here. You need to immediately run for cover. The chances of escaping from a rabid wolf are greater than from a healthy one, since a sick wolf is exhausted and weak, but again, a sick wolf is even more dangerous, since just one bite can transmit an infection to you in the form of rabies.

Wolves are strong and dangerous predators. They usually do not attack people, but it is worth knowing how to behave in areas where wolves are found. If you encounter a wolf, do not run away. Don't look away, try to appear larger size(don't cower or crouch to the ground), make loud, scary noises and get to a safe place as soon as possible.

Steps

Part 1

How to Avoid an Attack

Part 2

What to do when attacked

If a wolf approaches you, make as much noise as possible and act aggressively. Take a step towards the wolf, start making noise, shouting, clapping your hands. Back away slowly. Continue to imitate aggression and make noise. Do not take your eyes off the wolf and do not turn your back to it.

Repel the attack. If the wolf attacks, fight off with sticks, stones, use pepper spray or any weapon that is at hand. Find a position that makes it easier to defend: stand with your back to a tree or large rock. Don't let the wolf get behind you.

• Don't try to "hide out of the blue" or curl up in the fetal position. It won't save your life. An attacking wolf, as a rule, can change its mind and leave only if it sees you as a large and dangerous opponent.

1. Don't let your guard down. If you manage to drive away the wolf, quietly and quickly head to the nearest shelter. Climb a tree, tall boulder, or other tall object. If possible, take shelter in a nearby building or car.

   • Don't relax too early. The wolf may sneak up on you or your camp, waiting for the right moment. If he is very hungry, he may attack again.

2. Stay together. If there are several of you in a group and you are attacked by wolves, children and the wounded should remain in the center of the group. When wolves attack a herd, they target the weakest prey: the young, the old, and the sick. No matter what happens, stay close and don’t run away. Let someone watch every direction: you cannot allow the wolves to bypass you and attack unexpectedly.

   Keep an eye on your dog. If you have a dog with you and you find yourself in an area where wolves are found, never lose sight of it. Clean up her excrement, stop her from vocalizing, and try to make sure she doesn't mark her territory. All this can attract wolves, for whom you and your dog are uninvited guests. Both wolves and dogs urinate to mark territory as theirs (and also leave scratches and roll on the ground to leave their scent), so a wolf may attack a dog if it senses that it is trespassing on its property.

Part 3

How to secure a camp

Light a fire. If wolves are prowling around your campsite, light a smoky fire to keep them at bay. Add green leaves and damp wood to the fire to make it smoke as much as possible. Move some of the embers under a tree or scatter them among several trees. Dip the branches in resin and set them on fire. Try to have the smoke blown by the wind towards the wolves.

• Wolves do not like fire and smoke, as they feel danger from them. When young wolf cubs are nearby (as is very likely in the spring), fire can even force adult wolves to seek a new den if the female feels her offspring are threatened.

1. Make a safe haven. Use branches, rocks, sharp sticks, and other durable objects to build a fence around your camp. If it's secure enough, wolves won't get in, but don't forget that they'll still be able to hear you and smell you.

   Try to make as much noise as possible. Wolves howl to claim territory, so they may interpret the noise as a signal that the territory is occupied. If there are several of you, sing and shout in unison. Make noise as loudly and aggressively as possible.

• A lone wolf is unlikely to attack from the front, especially tall man. Try to appear even bigger: spread your arms, flap your jacket tails, hold large objects in your hands. Wolves are naturally afraid of people.
• If wolves attack, don't run! Wolves have an instinct to chase fleeing prey.
• When going to a place where wolves are found, try to learn about their behavior in advance. The more you know about wolves, the better your chances of survival.
• Wolves protect their offspring, and they certainly will not be happy if someone touches their cubs (and may even abandon them after contact with a person). If you see a wolf cub, do not approach!
• Don't think that a wolf is something like big dog. A wolf's jaws are much more powerful than a dog's!
• If you see a wolf near human habitation in winter or spring, it will probably be a young animal that has not left the pack until recently and knows nothing about people. In this case, you can arouse his natural curiosity. However, it is better to scare the wolf so that it stays away from people.
• Keep your eyes on the wolf, but NEVER look him straight in the eyes! This will cause even more aggression.
• Don't go hiking alone. A group of people has a better chance of dealing with a wolf.
• Wolves, like many other predators, are cautious and do not risk themselves for food. If the wolf sees that you are too dangerous a prey, he will most likely retreat.
• If you come across a sleeping wolf, move away slowly and silently. Never approach a wolf - he may attack. Remember that this is a wild animal whose actions are unpredictable!

I’ll start this topic with a video that has already appeared on other forums:

Filmed with a video camera attached to a dog. Swedish Elkhound Clara, despite numerous injuries, remained alive.

Probably for the first time we were able to look at a wolf attack through the eyes of a dog. Although, in my opinion, this is not really an attack. When wolves actually attack, everything happens much more harshly, and most importantly - shorter. In my opinion, here we see nothing more than youth training. My IMHO: The wolf family was not hungry, the seasoned ones brought the first-year wolf cubs to the dog (or drove it to them), and gave them the opportunity to figure it out themselves. The seasoned ones themselves (or one she-wolf), most likely, watched from the side and guarded the owner’s approach. That's why they didn't come into the camera's field of view. Having discovered his approach, they immediately took the wolf cubs away so as not to get shot (in a wolf family, discipline is ironclad, I saw it myself). That’s why the poor fellow remained alive, and not thanks to the vest with the camera she was wearing.

So how can you protect your dog from wolf attacks or prevent this attack? Let's share our experience, who saves theirs how four-legged friend, or applies any effective methods protection.

In 2012, wolves killed two red ones at once. That's why I think this question is the most big problem for today. In principle, it is possible to protect yourself from other troubles, be it ticks, snakes, large traps and snares, would-be hunters confusing a dog with a wild animal. Or at least provide for them. Another thing is wolves. A strong wolf family has a very large hunting area, which they periodically go around. The period is usually from a week to 15 days. That is why they most often appear unexpectedly, where they were not there yesterday. Dogs are killed not only from starvation, but also as weaker food competitors. Often when attacked they act very brazenly. One hunter I know said that after shooting at an adult she-wolf, another, young one tried to attack the dog. Collars with metal teeth, spent cartridges or multi-colored ribbons tied to the collar, even a brightly flashing radio collar beacon will not protect the dog. If the wolf decides to attack, he will attack. They attack most often when the dog is busy working.
How I myself am trying to get out of the situation. First rule: I never allow a dog for a long time work away from me. Given our number of wolves, this is really dangerous for her life! Therefore, if the dog has gone far and is working there, I reduce the distance as quickly as possible. (Fair, of course, only for huskies; hounds move with a voice, therefore they are in much greater danger). I use a Garmin astro navigator with a radio collar. Helps, especially if the dog has moved out of earshot of her voice.
Second rule: I avoid traces of wolves, especially fresh ones. If they exist, under no circumstances do I go in the same direction. It’s easier in winter, but along the black trail it’s much more difficult. When entering any forest road, first of all I carefully examine it to see if there are traces of wolves on it. A wolf, if it comes out on the road, will definitely walk along it. It is much more difficult to spot a trail in the forest. Another point of trace activity is urinary points. A male wolf, having marked a post, stump, or bush, very often violently paws at the ground next to the mark. Moss and clods of earth sometimes fly away several meters. If there are fresh traces of wolves, I put the dog on a leash and lead him away.
I heard from other hunters that wolves do not attack a pack of dogs. What is considered a flock? Two dogs, of course, are not a pack. Although I had a case when two Karelians and I met a lone wolf. He walked towards us and went to the side, giving way to us. I read all this from the footprints in the snow. Maybe numerical superiority played a role, or maybe he sensed me, which is most likely. The dogs were not very far from me then. At the same time, for some reason the wolves do not touch the packs of stray dogs hunting in the forest. I'm not the only one who noticed this. Why? Maybe they smell something special?
So, does anyone have any more effective ways protection?

In this article, originally published in the spring issue of the magazine "International Wolf" In 1998, wolf expert David Sword decided to study the problem and find out how capable wolves are of creating physical danger to people. Reports of wolves killing children in India and a wolf attack on a sleeping 11-year-old tourist in Canada raised questions among the general public about the dangers of wolves and David, who wrote an article on the topic in 1992, "International Wolf", felt it was time to reconsider the problem.

Since the information below (article by David Sword) is more related to North America, then it is also worth interpreting it for the northern regions of Europe and Asia, since the habits of wolves and their sizes are almost comparable to wolves living in North America.

Should you be afraid of the big gray wolf?
“There has never been a documented case of a healthy wolf killing or seriously injuring a human in North America.”

Not many of us are familiar with this statement, but maybe some of us have known about it, especially those of us who study wolves or try to present this information to the public. But how true is this statement and how did you come to it? The statement has been made for many years. Have there ever been any exceptions? Besides, if wolves don't attack people, why not leave them alone?

Since my job required me to regularly deal with wolves, I tried to keep track of this problem. In fact, I have spent the last 12 years living with a pack of wild wolves in the remote Arctic, just 600 miles from the North Pole. Every night for those years, while I slept, only the thin nylon of my tent separated me from the wolves. Often the adult wolves howled or barked, and their pups whined a few steps from my head, interrupting my sleep. Even when I was outside my tent, or sometimes when the otherwise morbid interest of my companions forced them to approach me, I beat them with my cane, forcing them to move away. That's not counting the times I've spotted them running around my newly hung undies, which I hung out in the tundra to dry.

Overall, I have worked and lived with approximately 16 Arctic wolves, and none of them have ever made me feel afraid of them. One of them, while I was sleeping, developed the habit of positioning himself outside my tent like a dog. One wolf allowed me to sit among her pups and take notes while she howled nonchalantly just a few feet away. Others once stuck their heads into my tent and pulled out my sleeping bag, luckily I saw this from a distance and was able to make them throw the bag away with a loud scream.

Photo. Work by Gustave Doré, Little Red Riding Hood

However, these are the same wolves that I observed that are capable of hunting an adult musk ox and tearing it apart. Their jaws are strong enough to crack a musk ox leg bone three inches wide. In the south, relatives of these wolves are capable of cracking the skull of an adult moose. It is clear that wolves could easily kill a person if they wished. Still, according to at least Until recently, no one had ever found a dead missing person who had been eaten or even seriously injured by non-rabid wolves during the many millions of days visiting our national parks, forests and other wilderness areas where wolves live.

In fact, even " dangerous situations" between wolves and humans in North America were rare enough to be documented in scientific journals. In such reports you can find information: about the bites of several botanists, which, as it turned out, were quite close to a wolf den in the Northwest Territories of Canada; about a wolf that bit a man in the Arctic, who tried to tear the animal away from his sled dogs, with whom the wolf was fighting; and a wolf, who grazed the paleobotanist’s cheek with his tooth; as it turned out, he was just curious and grabbed a woman on Ellesmere Island near the North Pole.

Two interesting human-wolf encounters in northeastern Minnesota show the ways in which wolves interact with people who are seriously injured. The first incident involved a logger who noticed two wolves attacking a deer nearby. The lumberjack picked up his dog, which was extremely frightened by the attack on the deer. One of the wolves walked towards the man and the dog and made a hole with his tooth lower jaw six-inch deep wound on a motley black and red woolen lumberjack shirt. As the wolf tried to tear the lumberjack's clothes off with his wide open jaws, the lumberjack did everything right - he pinned him down with his throat.

“It’s not me, the wolf attacked,” the lumberjack told me. “He tried to grab the dog, which just happened to be in my hands.”

Video. Why you should respect wolves

The second Minnesota incident involved a 19-year-old hunter who was left with a long scratch on his body by a wolf's claws. A guy was hunting hares during a snowstorm while wearing snowshoes in a wide swamp north of Duluth. He was wearing his favorite jacket made from a dead deer, which apparently still carried the scent of the animal. Suddenly the wolf attacked him from behind and knocked him onto his back. Once the wolf pinned him to the ground, the surprised hunter managed to fire his .22 caliber rifle. I think the wolf came to his senses and ran away, leaving the hunter with a long scratch.

Mistaken identity? Perhaps, but if the wolf had intended to kill the hunter, he might have done it easily.

Why do wolves injure rather than kill people in North American forests, parks and wilderness areas? This difficult question is difficult to answer. It is true that wolves are usually very afraid of people. This fear probably comes from the fact that wolves have been persecuted by people for so long. Thus, the rare and famous event of someone searching for a wolf in the wild suggests only one thing - the person is doing it deliberately.

It is because of the elusiveness of wolves that I had to travel every summer to the deep Arctic, to an area about 200 miles north of the nearest Inuit village, to observe wolves up close. Even the wolves in Isle Royale National Park have not harassed humans since their arrival on the island in 1949, maintaining their extreme shyness towards humans.

However, there are a few places where wolves have either lost their shyness towards people, or may have never developed it. An example of this is the distant Arctic, where I live with “my bag” every summer. An example of this would be cases in several national parks, where some wolves, like coyotes and bears, are accustomed to people.

What makes these wolves, who have lost their fear of people, attack people? The answer may lie in the fact that humans stand upright on two legs. No wolf prey does that. In addition, bears sometimes stand upright on their hind legs and usually the wolves try to avoid the bears. Another explanation is that wolves have long learned to avoid people. Those wolves who did not learn this lesson were destroyed.

The final part of the answer, however, is rather awkward. I referred to incidents, mainly in Asia and Europe, in which wolves had apparently killed or seriously injured people. For centuries, such cases have occurred in areas such as Russia, China, the Middle East, and even Spain and other European countries. Many such cases undoubtedly relate to rabid wolves, which, like mad dogs, squirrels and skunks, attack people. A large number of cases are obvious falsifications or extreme exaggerations, such as a published article in a 1911 newspaper about an event in Tashkent, the former Soviet republic Uzbekistan, which claimed that wolves killed the entire wedding party of 130 people.

Such obvious fiction tends to overshadow any serious cases that might actually exist. However, recent incidents of wolves killing people in India have been verified by the competent authorities and appear to have actually happened. From March to October 1996, a wolf or wolves allegedly killed or seriously injured 64 children in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Yadvendradev Jhala, a US-trained wolf biologist who studies wolves in his native India, verified these reports and tried to determine the likelihood of an animal other than wolves being involved in these events. By examining the victims, interviewing survivors and witnesses, checking tracks and hair, Yhala came to the conclusion that a wolf or wolves took part in these murders.

Photo. Fragment from the film Little Red Riding Hood and the Gray Wolf

In March and April 1997, nine or 10 more people apparently fell prey to wolves in the same area. Almost all of the victims were children under the age of 10 who were playing and running around the outskirts of small villages surrounded by dense vegetation. Very little wild life lives in this area and most livestock are well kept.

Young children were left unattended, perhaps even neglected by their parents, during the deaths. Because the Indian government compensated parents of children killed by wild animals much more than average annual salaries, Indian biologists believe that this may have actually been an incentive for parents not to look after their children as well as they usually do. In regions where killings have occurred, wolves are usually frequent visitors to villages and sometimes even enter huts. It is obvious that they lost their fear of humans, or perhaps they became so desperate due to lack of prey that they were forced to approach human sites. This combination of lack of fear, closeness to people and presence large quantity young children unsupervised may have contributed to some bolder wolves showing a tendency to experiment with this new type of prey. It may have taken the wolves many attempts before they actually succeeded in grasping undetected small child, but one day one or two persecutions were rewarded to begin to control the local wolf population.

A similar combination of circumstances could explain the case of the wolf that grabbed 11-year-old Zachary Delventhal in his sleeping bag in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, an incident that occurred in August 1996.

On August 17, 1996, a wolf grabbed Zachary's face and tried to pull him away, causing a wound that required 80 stitches. Perhaps the wolf was trying to grab not the boy, but his sleeping bag. As noted earlier, the wolves I live with in the deep Arctic once tried to steal my empty sleeping bag from my tent. On another occasion, they tried to escape with the sleeping bag I was traveling with on the tundra. Wolves, like dogs, may be attracted to soft, fluffy or fur-like things that they enjoy playing with or tearing apart. Regardless of the wolf's intentions, in the Algonquin Provincial Park incident, important factor was that the animal was accustomed to people. This wolf had already been running away with backpacks, tennis shoes and other human items in the area for several days before the attack on Zachary. He even ate human food.

In other words, like bears that feed in landfills, garbage cans or human campsites, this wolf not only lost his fear of people, but was rewarded for what he did. While this combination of circumstances does not always lead to incidents where people are injured, there is another condition. This unfounded reason wolves inflicting wounds on people, but it really seems a necessary condition wolf attacks.

As the wolf population begins to bounce back in both Lake Superior and the western United States, it is important that people understand this situation. Wolves are large carnivores. Like bears, cougars and domestic dogs, they should be regarded as potentially dangerous animals. This does not mean that wolves should be viewed with an unhealthy fear or that we should return to the days when wolves were viewed as demons. It just means that we should view wolves with the same healthy respect as any potentially dangerous animal.

David Mech, world renowned research biologist wildlife, who has studied wolves for almost 40 years. He is the founder of the International Wolf Center and the current vice chairman of the center's board of directors. He is widely published in academic and popular journals. His books, including The Wolf, The Way of the Wolf and The Arctic Wolf, were recently reissued in expanded editions.