Earlier this month, Rob Edward was scrolling through Facebook when he came across a purported image of one of Colorado's recently introduced wolves, identifiable by its collar. The photo, reportedly taken by a rancher near Grand County, depicted one of the first ten wolves released as part of the state's reintroduction initiative.
As a longstanding advocate for wolf reintroduction through the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, Edward was initially intrigued by the credible image. However, the photograph, taken near homes by a road, contradicted the common perception that wolves are "elusive" and "unlikely to approach people or homes," as stated in a Colorado Parks and Wildlife brochure.
Edward, while somewhat surprised, also acknowledged the heightened awareness around wolf sightings, stating, "Right now, because people have such an eye out, it’s more likely somebody sees them."
This incident is likely to fuel an ongoing debate. An email in a reporter's inbox captured the sentiments: "Hiking is fine, but just wait till wolves start dragging people and their dogs down." The reintroduction of wolves in Colorado continues to stir discussions and concerns about human-wolf interactions.
That CPW brochure — the agency deferred questions to it — stresses the importance of keeping dogs close by in wolf country. Last year in Jackson County, wolves that had migrated from Wyoming reportedly killed a working cattle dog and fatally injured a pet dog.
Territorial wolves very well might kill dogs perceived as threats, said Kevin Crooks, a wildlife biologist directing Colorado State University’s Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence. “As can other large carnivores, such as mountain lions and coyotes,” he said.
Colorado residents should be as informed about navigating wolf-inhabited landscapes as they are about moving through areas frequented by moose and elk, emphasized Crooks.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) offers similar guidance to individuals encountering wolves. Recommendations include maintaining a safe distance, ensuring visual contact with any spotted wolves, speaking calmly yet firmly, and, in the highly improbable event of a wolf attack, fighting back, as stated in their brochure.
To prepare Coloradans for coexisting with wolves once again, the Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence has published literature focusing on the rarity of wolf-human encounters.
The center, through research, education, and outreach efforts, aims to equip people with the knowledge needed to live alongside wolves.
Wolves were eradicated from Colorado in the 1940s primarily due to concerns about their threat to livestock, a recurring issue now in the spotlight.
The Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence has concentrated on addressing the concerns of ranchers, who often view wolves as a threat to their livestock, as well as outdoor enthusiasts who may perceive a potential risk of harm or death.
Referencing Yellowstone National Park's experience, where wolves were reintroduced in 1995, the center highlights that no wolf attacks have been reported in the park since then. Additionally, a study spanning from 1900 to 2000 found no documented human deaths caused by wolves across North America during that century.
A study between 2002 and 2020 expanded the research to Europe. The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research determined 489 attacks on people, 26 of whom were killed. Two deaths were tracked in North America: a Canadian miner in 2005 and a jogger in 2010 in Alaska.
The report concluded: “Considering that there are close to 60,000 wolves in North America and 15,000 in Europe, all sharing space with hundreds of millions of people, it is apparent that the risks associated with a wolf attack are above zero, but far too low to calculate.”
Rob Edward emphasized that acknowledging the truth about wolves is essential and should not downplay their inherent danger.
He pointed out, "They are dangerous. They are big canines who hunt for a living, and they have the capacity to take down large prey bigger than humans."
Edward also highlighted the power of mythology in shaping perceptions of wolves.
He referenced the tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" and connected it to the European experience during the plague years when wolves, due to the scarcity of food, became habituated to human flesh.
In those times, human remains were often found at the outskirts of cities, contributing to the creation of stories that fueled fear and mistrust of wolves.
Which speaks to another point scientists have stressed: “You don’t want to habituate them by providing them with food, intentionally or unintentionally,” Crooks said.
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