# Wolves Attacking People? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491 "2010-02-18T17:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/41 "2010-03-13T01:19:53Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > It wouldn’t be _unimaginable_ that the medical examiner might misread the autopsy as part of the “heavy assuming” going on. Other options exist as well, such as the first attack being by a polar bear. Many elements of that story seem fishy to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/42 "2010-03-13T03:51:26Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > Shit, they are more dangerous than I thought. If they learn to use a scope we’re screwed. No we are wolf shit if they figure out how inept we are:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/43 "2010-03-13T04:39:41Z")
> [@old\_joe](#): > > In alberta at least they dont. I saw wolves and tracks all the time when I was in the bush. Alone so I would think that several wolves could have had thier way with me if they wanted. I did have some follow me though, especially when my dog was in season. Then they would get close enough pitch a rock at. That’s one determining factor in whether wolves will attack humans. Wolves will look upon dogs as something to mate with or competitors for their range. Humans who were accompanied by dogs were most likely to attract wolves, but even so, the wolves were out to drive the dog away or kill it, but not necessarily to attack the humans. If people get too close to a wolf den and cubs, the wolves are also more likely to attack in order to drive away what they perceive as a threat to their young. Wolves are generally more inclined to avoid humans under most circumstances, however, and don’t normally prey upon us as a source of food. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/44 "2010-03-14T03:26:54Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > It wouldn’t be _unimaginable_ that some clever human took note of the rising wolf-attack hysteria in the region, offed her, and literally threw her to the wolves, and they dragged off and mauled the corpse as part of their normal scavenging behavior. It wouldn’t be _unimaginable_ that the medical examiner might misread the autopsy as part of the “heavy assuming” going on. Oh come on. It also wouldn’t be unimaginable that if we had _video_ of wolves mauling her, some posters would suggest the video was faked. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/45 "2010-03-14T04:16:30Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > Shit, they are more dangerous than I thought. If they learn to use a scope we’re screwed. See the second painting here: [http://www.wrmgraphics.com/page40.html](http://www.wrmgraphics.com/page40.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/46 "2010-03-14T04:27:04Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > See the second painting here: [http://www.wrmgraphics.com/page40.html](http://www.wrmgraphics.com/page40.html) Damn! Well, we had a good run… ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/47 "2010-03-14T16:25:31Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > [For contrast](http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html), there were 33 fatalities in 2007 alone from dog attacks, and an average of 4.7 million bite victims annually. Of course, another big difference is that no one goes around training wolves to attack people. I read a book by Massad Ayoob many years ago and he expressed many reservations about owning an attack trained dog. He was much more positive about owning a watchdog, but even in that case proper training is important. You should also approach it with an attitude closer to adopting a child than getting a biological alarm system. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/48 "2010-03-14T17:26:38Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > For contrast in how likely it is for an average person to be attacked. Theoretical circumstances have nothing to do with the actual incidence. The fact of the matter is that dogs are more likely to be a danger to people than wolves. Yes, sometime in the future, if wolf numbers are high enough or more people suddenly start to come into close contact with wolves, I would expect there to be a problem. But in the real world, right now, you’re far more likely to be killed by a dog than to even encounter a wolf, much less be attacked by one. That is a completely meaningless and completely annoying use of statistics. You cannot compare likelihood of attack or dangerousness from incidence like that. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/49 "2010-03-14T23:40:07Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > You cannot compare likelihood of attack or dangerousness from incidence like that. :dubious: Surely comparing the incidence of occurrence within the population is the \*only \*way of determining likleihood. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/50 "2010-03-15T00:24:50Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Other options exist as well, such as the first attack being by a polar bear. There are no polar bears within 500 miles of Chignik Lake where the mauling took place. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/51 "2010-03-15T00:36:31Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > I recall once seeing a picture of some famous painting - Russia, I think - where the one-horse open sleigh is dashing through the snow, being pursued by a pack of wolves and someone (the mother) is throwing a baby off the back to slow down the pack so they can get away. Something about the harshness of life and the decisions that have to be made, or something - or was it a famous Russian folk tale, or something? > > Anyone know this reference? I asked about it once, but I don’t remember if I got an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/52 "2010-03-15T01:26:14Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > There are no polar bears within 500 miles of Chignik Lake where the mauling took place. See, Gobal Warming is causing them to migrate. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/53 "2010-03-15T08:28:55Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > :dubious: > > Surely comparing the incidence of occurrence within the population is the \*only \*way of determining likleihood. Saying dogs kill more people than wolves is fine. But saying people are more likely to be attacked by dogs than wolves is just noise. Shoe laces are also more likely to attack people than wolves, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/54 "2010-03-15T08:43:55Z")
Not following, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/55 "2010-03-15T09:53:48Z")
I’m saying it’s not smart to access life or death risk posed by wolf-human contact based on average number of deaths per US population and comparing that to dogs. Just like the often quoted sound byte “planes are safer than cars”. Better? Just in case it isn’t clear, I’m not arguing “for or against wolves”, whatever that means. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/56 "2010-03-15T10:59:03Z")
The wolves in Yellowstone were mostly imported from Canada in 1995. I’m not sure of the wisdom of that unless there is an over abundance of elk or buffalo. They were originally wiped out in the early part of the last century. I personally wouldn’t wander around a park by myself without a gun if it has wolves/bears in it. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/57 "2010-03-15T13:29:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The wolves in Yellowstone were mostly imported from Canada in 1995. I’m not sure of the wisdom of that unless there is an over abundance of elk or buffalo. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/58 "2010-03-15T14:16:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Sounds like it could be a good mystery novel. Or an episode of _Bones_… ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/59 "2010-03-15T14:21:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > There are no polar bears within 500 miles of Chignik Lake where the mauling took place. What about brown bears (but they would probably be asleep at this time of the year, when I think of it)? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491/60 "2010-03-15T16:32:29Z")
Y’all are overlooking the most obvious possibility: the woman was slain by government agents. The “wolf attack” was a staged cover-up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolves-attacking-people/529491.md?page=4)