Wolves have been animals that have been revered and feared in equal measure, today we are going to talk about them. false myths about wolves that we have always believed. Things like killing for the sake of killing or attacks on human beings.
In this article we are going to know, thus, one of the animals that are culturally present in most cultures of the world. And not only that, all dog breeds, regardless of the country where that breed arose, come from wolves, although only some breeds are close to their origins. Likewise, there are different breeds of wolves depending on their habitat.
False myths about wolves
Before discussing several false myths about wolves, it is important to note the role wolves have played among humans. They are protagonists of stories, legends, myths. Sometimes they are revered, sometimes they are the bad guys in the story, sometimes they are man's best friend, sometimes they are the one who eats man's food... however they appear, they are always there.
All this popular ideology has made us have preconceived ideas about these dogs. When in reality there are many things that are not part of their nature and we think they are. So it's time to demystify those things. Who doesn't remember the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood or the wolf from the Three Little Pigs? Many times in children's stories these animals appear as fearsome, hunters and treacherous. Today we can also find stories where wolves are misunderstood and are good characters. The idea that we must stay with is that wolves are neither good nor bad, they are wolves. Wolves do not attack people normally, wolves hunt to eat since they are carnivores, wolves protect themselves and take care of other animals that can harm them in packs.
1. Wolves attack people
In many stories, movies, and legends, we can see wolves appearing alone or in a pack and attacking someone. In reality, It is very strange for a wolf or pack to attack a person. To give you an idea of how rare this is, there have only been two cases of death from wolf attacks in North America in the last century. In Spain, no wolf attacks on humans have been documented for decades.
If wolves notice that there are people near them, what they will do is go in another direction. They are discreet, they try to avoid conflicts and, therefore, even though they may be close, they do not let themselves be seen. There are few cases of people who have been able to see a wolf in the wild. It is also important to understand that many stories about attacks on humans are more related to fear and popular culture than to the reality of the situation. wild animals.
2. Killing for pleasure
Related to the previous point, it is preconceived that wolves kill out of pleasure, out of instinct, this could happen on occasion. But it is not usual to kill for fun. Hunting involves a significant expenditure of energy for a wolf that is free, That's why they'll only kill when necessary to eat. Wolves typically live on the brink of nutritional deprivation; they don't starve, but we don't see them fat either.
The thing about wolves is that hunting requires a lot of energy; they have to travel many miles in search of prey they're tracking. Approximately 10-20% of hunting attempts are successful., which implies a low percentage. Therefore, when they have prey within reach they do not hesitate to hunt it to ensure food since it is something that is not guaranteed.
When wolves kill an animal, they may return to that spot several times until there is nothing left. from the carcass, as long as they are not scared off by other animals or humans. This is related to wolves' nature as efficient hunters, seeking to maximize their performance on each hunt.
3. If they can, they will destroy other wild herds
As much as it is thought that wolves can eradicate other animal packs, in reality, all animals in the wild are interconnectedIn areas where there isn't much hunting, wolves have fewer pups, and therefore fewer wolves; in areas where there is a lot of hunting, there are more wolves. At the same time, prey animals evolve over the years, becoming faster, stronger, and more resilient against predators.
Therefore, the natural hunting cycle is a way for nature itself to control itself and wolves in that sense are highly unlikely to make packs of animals disappear. They are like any other predator. This relationship is fundamental to understanding how ecosystems work and the importance of wolves in the wild.
4. Wolves are necessary to maintain the ecosystem
It is understood that when wolves stop inhabiting a landscape, the animals that hunt them increase in numbers and damage fields, slopes, rivers... But it's not that simple how that.
When wolves are eliminated from a place, there are many things that change but those things do not return to the previous state by simply reintroducing the wolves. The Wolves They are an important element of a place, of a healthy ecosystem, but they are not the only thing that affects to the stability of that ecosystem. The interaction between different species, as occurs in the case of owls and other predators, is also crucial.
In the case of Spain, since 2021 the wolf is a protected species and hunting is prohibited. The Iberian wolf has come close to extinction. Since the 70s, many animal associations have mobilized to prevent the species from disappearing. Therefore, we are now in the midst of a recovery plan for the Iberian wolf.
These dogs were originally distributed throughout the entire peninsular territory of the Iberian Peninsula, but today where they remain is north of the Duero. The main populations are currently located in Castilla y León, Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias.
The protection of the wolf was done for two reasons, on the one hand its cultural value, On the other hand, his work as a regulator of ungulate populations wild. This work is important to maintain the balance in ecosystems and is related to other myths, such as those myths surrounding animals.
We invite you to learn more about these wild dogs in our articles about The Types of Wolves and their Characteristics y Species, Habitat, Fun Facts and more.
