This is a photo of a grey wolf in Yellowstone National Park. They are currently being reintroduced to the park with some success. Read about it here.

As an ancient woodland spirit, The Green Man is familiar with the wolves that share his domain in the old forest. As he explores forgotten paths he frequently encounters wolves, they are a manifestation of the wilderness spirit.

Not everyone shares The Green Mans fondness for wolves however. A study by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Wisconsin shows that your attitude to wolves depends very much on deeply rooted social identities and occupations. Hunters, who view wolves as competitors, are particularly intolerant to them with 74% indicating they wanted the wolves of Winconsin reduced in number or eliminated entirely. This compared with 44% of livestock producers and 28% of the population generally.

You might think that the intolerance of hunters and farmers is born out of their experiences with losses to wolves but this is not the case. There was no difference in attitude between those who lost stock/hunting dogs and those who didn't. It tended to be more cultural, with the attitudes arising from their peer group rather than personal experience.

Wolves were eliminated in Wisconsin in the 1950's but are slowly making a comeback, there is now a population of approximately 350. The Green Man wishes them luck. They are a natural part of the North American ecosystem and deserve a small space in the vast American wilderness.