Susan M. O'Keeffe, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University, 5 South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UB, England

While many people tend to view the return of the wolf (Canis lupus) to various parts of the Western world as an indication that diverse, healthy ecosystems are being re-established, this event is posing numerous problems for farmers, rural communities, and conservationists as well as those responsible for enforcing the predator's protection. Strongly divergent convictions concerning this animal's place in the natural world have led to intense conflicts between those in favor of the wolf and those opposed.

The goal of this study was to determine the root causes of the current conflicts surrounding the return of the wolf to the French Alps, and to examine the Stewardship Ethic as a possible means of addressing these issues. Quantitative as well as qualitative research was conducted in a rural Alpine community located in the Isère region, the Haut Brèda Valley, where the wolf has recently returned. An extensive questionnaire was used to determine the population's stewardship tendencies, their knowledge and tolerance of the wolf, as well as their perspectives concerning related topics. In order to fully determine the complexities surrounding this event, personal interviews were conducted with representatives from the main interest groups in addition to community members.

The data revealed that despite generally positive stewardship trends, people tended to be divided between traditional Western beliefs concerning human being's relationship with nature, and a burgeoning environmental ethic. For the Haut Brèda valley and small scale farmers in general, economic problems were exposed as the greatest concern and most viewed the wolf as simultaneously illuminating and exacerbating the present situation.

The study concluded that the problems surrounding the wolf's return to the French Alps, as elsewhere, will not be solved without the transformation of Western ethical convictions concerning nature, as well as a profound modification of the current economic and agricultural systems. The Stewardship Ethic, while not flawless, appears to provide a pragmatic starting point for this process, and the acceptance of the wolf a meaningful indicator of the progress being made.

 

Based upon stomach and scat contents the diet of arctic wolves is predominantly muskoxen. This is not surprising since muskox numbers on these 3 islands exceed 70,000. However, arctic wolves also prey on endangered Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) and given an abundant alternate prey source there is concern that even limited wolf predation on Peary caribou may be a factor in their continued population decline on Banks Island and low numbers on NW Vistoria Island. Collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx torquatus) are a prominent small mammal prey.