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The positions expressed reflect the views of
the authors or organizations cited and does not necessarily reflect
the views of the International Wolf Center.
by Bill Route
Wolves spark intense emotions. They are revered as symbols of
wildness, worshipped as the spirits of nature, idolized as the
ultimate social animals. Yet fear and hatred of wolves, or at
least of the ideals they symbolize, still runs deep. The challenge
is to provide a whole sense of the animal and hope that with knowledge
comes acceptance.
To educate people about wolves is to reveal an animal of stark
contrasts and human-like behaviors. Wolves can form tight emotional
bonds with other pack members, but at times they brutally enforce
their hierarchical social order. Wolves may at times adopt and
nurture the young of another wolf, yet at other times they will
hasten to kill another who dares trespass in to their territory.
In listening to people's feelings about wolves, I often find
they emphasize either what is perceived in human terms as "good"
or "bad" about their behavior. Instead of asking whether wolves
are good or bad, we at the International Wolf Center teach about
the complexities of the animal. How difficult is it to take down
a 1,200 pound moose? How does a pack raise its pups? What impacts
do humans have on wolf survival? What impacts do wolves have on
humans? Indeed, there is much for us to gain from fully understanding
wolves and their relationship with other wildlife and humans.
The wolf's story should evoke a sense of wonderment and acceptance
for nature even in full light of the sometimes brutal reality
of life in the wild. Telling the wolf's story is especially important
as people grow more removed from nature and we strive to understand
how humans fit in to the natural environment.
Updated: January, 2001
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