Like all other things with wolves, our shared history has two extremes.
Symbiotic Coexistence
In many indigenous cultures, wolves are admired and respected.
The Ojibwe creation story tells the story of the first man who wandered the earth with his brother Ma’iingan, the first wolf. They eventually went their separate ways, but the creator told them their paths would always be connected.
These cultures recognized the similarities we shared with the wolves – from our familial structures to our hunting practices.
This bond may have eventually to the domestication of some wolves into the dogs that are now such a huge part of our lives.
Conflict
On the other side are the people who looked at wolves with fear.
Our transition from hunter gatherers to an agricultural society turned wolves into a direct threat to livestock.
As we continued to develop wild areas, expanding our civilizations and bringing domesticated animals into wolf territory, conflict with wolves inevitably increased.
This shift laid the foundation for a centuries-old conflict between shepherds and wolves.
In many ways, the battle between wolves and shepherds became a symbol of good vs. evil, innocent vs. sinful, civilized vs. wild – a symbol that would work its way into religion, folklore, and societal attitudes for generations.
The Bible’s association of the wolf and the devil was a particularly influential portrayal of that time, with wolves representing the forces of darkness threatening the flock.
Wolves became convenient scapegoats for larger societal problems. During times of economic hardship or environmental change, predators like wolves often received the blame.
“We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be – the mythologized epitome of a savage ruthless killer – which is, in reality, no more than a reflected image of ourself.”
Farley Mowat, Never Cry Wolf
This widespread association of wolves as evil combined with the threat to livestock fueled a moral crusade that went well beyond predator control.
Across Europe, countries engaged in systematic efforts to exterminate wolf populations. Bounty systems were established, incentivizing hunters to kill wolves and effectively driving the species to near extinction in several regions.
Many believed they were waging a righteous battle, eradicating a malevolent force from the land to protect their families and their livelihoods.
The association of wolves with darkness and danger justified the use of such brutal methods, making it seem as though they were bringing safety and order to a world threatened by chaos.
When Europeans colonized North America, they brought these deep-seated fears with them, leading to similar eradication campaigns on this continent.
Settlers saw wolves not only as a threat to livestock but also as a symbol of the untamed wilderness they sought to control.
The federal government supported these efforts, encouraging the elimination of wolves in the West to make room for ranching and expansion.
Poisoning, trapping, and shooting were commonplace, and by the mid-20th century, wolves had been all but eliminated from the lower 48 states.
In order to navigate the complexity of modern wolf issues, it is absolutely necessary to understand the generations of deeply engrained emotions and beliefs that continue to influence debate today.