Wolf Attacks in the
United States and Around the World are a Documented
Fact
While many say wolf attacks do not happen
unless the wolf is rabid, T.R. Mader's interesting but
chilling information below counters that unwise
assertion.
Wolves, mountain lions and coyotes and even black
bear are making a successful comeback in many parts of the
United States due in part to the overpopulation of whitetail
deer and in part due to federal programs designed to
increase numbers.
Wolves and other predators of deer who are a very
important part of the ecological balance can't just have free
range as some would love to see take place.
Why Is That? Their DNA for the majority of wolves tell them
to look at humans as food especially in years of food
shortages.
T.R. Mader's information should be viewed as a warning
to be very careful when hiking in the woods and unfortunately
walking or working in your own yard in some parts of the United
States and around the world.
If your home backs up to a section of woods, never leave
your children alone in what you think is a safe backyard.
Remember, wolves are here to stay as they
should be but that doesn't mean you should become lunch by
giving up your right to survive when wolves do on occasion
cross the line and attack a human. You are going to have some
wolves try to attack you just like some people will try to
attack you.
Stay aware of your surrounding in dealing with
animals and with man to be ready to be the one surviving an
attack. Just like you do with people, give the wolves a chance
to be good.
Read The Interesting
Information On The Following Pages Which We Are Providing As
Facts to Learn From To Help You Or A Loved One
Survive
WOLF ATTACKS ON HUMANS
By T. R. Mader, Research Division
It has been widely discussed whether a healthy
wild wolf has ever attacked a human on this continent. In fact,
many say such attacks have never occurred in North America.
History states otherwise. Although attacks on humans are
uncommon, they have occurred on this continent, both in the
early years of settlement and more recently. Here is one
report:
“NEW ROCKFORD, DAK, March 7 - The news has just
reached here that a father and son, living several miles
northeast of this city, were destroyed by wolves yesterday. The
two unfortunate men started to a haystack some ten rods from
the house to shovel a path around the stack when they were
surrounded by wolves and literally eaten alive. The
horror-stricken mother was standing at the window with a babe
in her arms, a spectator to the terrible death of her husband
and son, but was unable to aid them. After they had devoured
every flesh from the bones of the men, the denizens of the
forest attacked the house, but retired to the hills in a short
time. Investigation found nothing but the bones of the husband
and son. The family name was Olson. Wolves are more numerous
and dangerous now than ever before known in North Dakota."
(Saint Paul Daily Globe, March 8, 1888)
Here an account is reported which included an
eyewitness and the family name. Some have reasoned the wolves
were rabid. That is unlikely as these animals were functioning
as a pack. A rabid wolf is a loner. Our research has never
found a single historical account of packs of rabid wolves on
this continent. Individual animals are the norm. Further,
accounts of rabid (hydrophobic) animals were common in that day
and were reported as such.
The winters of 1886-1888 were very harsh. Many
western ranchers went broke during these years. The harsh
winter could have been a factor in the attack. Noted
naturalists documented wolf attacks on humans. John James
Audubon, of whom the Audubon Society is named, reported an
attack involving 2 Negroes. He records that the men were
traveling through a part of Kentucky near the Ohio border
in winter. Due to the wild animals in the area the men
carried axes on their shoulders as a precaution. While
traveling through a heavily forested area, they were
attacked by a pack of wolves. Using their axes, they
attempted to fight off the wolves. Both men were knocked
to the ground and severely wounded. One man was killed.
The other dropped his axe and escaped up a tree. There he
spent the night. The next morning the man climbed down
from the tree. The bones of his friend lay scattered on
the snow. Three wolves lay dead. He gathered up the axes
and returned home with the news of the event. This
incident occurred about 1830. (Audubon, J.J., and Bachman,
J.; The Quadrupeds of North America, 3 volumes. New York,
1851 - 1854)
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