Experts Shared Essential Tips For People Who Come Face To Face With A Wolf

Unlike bears, wolves don’t look that intimidating from a distance. If anything, you may think they’re pretty approachable. Maybe it’s their physical similarities to dogs that give off that impression. But resist the urge to get closer. These creatures won’t react like domesticated pets.

And if you cross the wrong wolf, you could be in for a very bad time. So what signs should you look out for in this situation? For starters, the wolf may begin to growl in an aggressive manner. It may also gnash its teeth and ready itself to pounce on you.

Scary stuff. But that’s got us thinking – what actually motivates wolves to attack people? Is there a catalyst? Well, there are a couple of things that prompt them to turn away from their usual prey and onto humans instead. So, take note – especially if you ever plan to head out into the wild.

Hunger can be a big motivator for the animals. And if food is incredibly scarce in the surrounding area, you run the risk of putting yourself at the top of the menu. Make no mistake, though – this would be the last resort for any wolf. You’d have to be very unlucky for that to happen.

Another explanation is far more likely. If you get too close to a tetchy wolf or show signs that you’re a potential danger, you’re inviting them to go on the offensive. And avoid their cubs. That’s a sure-fire way to rile the animals up.

Rabies is an issue, too. Wolves are affected by this horrible condition, and that’s bad news if you cross one with rabies in the wild. They’ll strike out at whatever’s around them, meaning no animal or person is safe.

We know that’s a lot to take in, but it’s good to be aware of this stuff before you head into wolf territory. Speaking of which, that leads us to another question – where should you be looking out for wolves? And it may surprise you to learn that they don’t just live in the U.S.

Wolves can handle both the cold and warm. Different terrains aren’t an issue, either, as they can be found roaming everywhere from sandy landscapes to dense forests, grassy stretches, and snowy patches. Nothing seems to phase these animals.

So you can spot packs of wolves in the North Pole and India. Some of them live in Mexico, too, although that’s more or less the cut-off point. It’s highly unlikely they’ll be any further south than that.

And, of course, there are a huge number of wolves in more northerly countries. That appears to be their preferred territory. Russia and Canada are two of the places you’d most expect to spot the majestic beasts, while Alaska is a big one in America.

But the animals also live in Wisconsin, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. So if you’re staying in any of those states, keep your eyes open! You may see something – and knowing how to ward off a wolf attack could just save your life.

You’re probably wondering what kinds of wolves can be found in those states, as there isn’t just one type. Well, experts believe that there are two main species: the red wolf and the gray wolf. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. They both have several subspecies, too.

Let’s start with the red wolf. Of the two main species, this one may sadly be on the verge of extinction. It did have three subspecies, although two of them no longer exist today. And a very small number is all that’s left of these beautiful animals in America. You’ll find them out in North Carolina.

Thankfully, the situation isn’t as bleak for the gray wolf. This is the species you’ll most likely spot while roaming the wilds of the United States. More than 20 subspecies were recognized in the past, showing how vast their population used to be. It’s a little bit different today, though.

The number of subspecies has been whittled down to five after further analysis. They’re called the Arctic wolf, the Rocky Mountain wolf, the Mexican wolf, the Great Plains wolf, and the Eastern wolf. A few people believe that the last kind is a species by itself.

That’s what you’re up against if you and your friends are planning to explore America’s great outdoors. But that leads us to our next big question – how frequent are wolf attacks? Should you really be on your guard 24/7? The answer could surprise you.

From 2002 to 2020, nearly 500 attacks were recorded across the globe. That would suggest they’re pretty rare. But an expert has still tried to urge you to be cautious. You can’t just rest on your laurels because the numbers appear low.

John Linnell of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research warned all of us when he said to The Wildlife Society, “The overall message is that most people in North America and Europe can live very close to wolves and be perfectly okay in 99.99999 percent of cases. But it’s never 100 percent. Things can happen. We need to be prepared for that.”

Other wildlife specialists may agree with Linnell’s assessment, as they’ve shared a couple of valuable survival tips. And these pieces of advice could save your life if you’re in trouble. So, here we go, ladies and gents. Let’s find out what you’ve got to do when confronted by a wolf.

The first tip is admittedly easier said than done, but it’s absolutely crucial. You need to try and stop an attack from materializing. Just because a wolf has you in its sights, that doesn’t mean it’ll automatically go for you... unless you give it a reason.

First things first: don’t gaze into the wolf’s eyes. If you stare at it, the animal will think you’re looking for a fight. Watch your mouth as well – it’s a bad idea to flash your teeth. Instead, slowly drop the upper half of your body as if you’re bowing down.

That simple action should tell the wolf that you’re not looking for trouble. Then you’re advised to take a few steps backward, keeping the front half of your body facing the animal. It’ll be nerve-wracking, but it’s better than running away. Speaking of which, you should never do that.

Wolf expert Oliver Starr explained why on Quora. He said, “Wolves are what’s known as coursing predators, meaning they take their prey on the run. If you watch wolves hunt, you’ll immediately see this in action. Wolves will attempt to get the animals they prey upon to run. If they don’t run, wolves usually don’t pursue the attack.” Good to know!

If the wolf does want to pursue you, though, what should you do next? Well, the animal will show those signs of aggression we mentioned earlier when it’s preparing to pounce. So you need to stop being nervous and make yourself seem scary.

This will tell the wolf that you’re not going to roll over for them. Raise your arms in the air and make your body look as big as possible. Then take a deep breath and begin to shout in the direction of the animal. You may look as though you’re turning into a bit of a madman – to the outside world, anyway.

That may sound simple enough, but Starr brought up something important on Quora. The expert wrote, “If you are noisy, don’t exhibit excessive fear and maintain control of yourself.” Yep, keep your voice strong! And try to scan your surroundings, too – you may spot something that could help.

“If you can do so without making yourself vulnerable, grab a few stones and throw them at the animals. [Then] back slowly away,” Starr added. With all the noise and your newfound aggression, there should now be a gap between you and the wolf. But don’t relax just yet.

Even though you’ve created some separation, that’s not a sign that the wolf is going to stop pursuing you. That whole second tip, in fact, is a setup for the next one: making your getaway. Hopefully by this point you’ll have seen a few more folks out and about.

If you have, you’re now in a great position. Wolves aren’t fond of pursuing or attacking people in big groups, and so that may be your way out. But it’s not a foregone conclusion. The beast could still try its luck.

If that happens, bunch around the more vulnerable members of your party. You’ll be shielding them from harm. And keep your eyes open for a nearby campfire. If you spot one, head in that direction, as wolves can’t stand the smoke and heat fires emit. 

But what if you’re not lucky enough to find a group to aid your escape? What happens then? Well, the How to Survive YouTube channel suggests that you could make your way up a tree. The wolf won’t follow you, but it’ll probably wait at the bottom for a while.

The best-case scenario is that the wolf will eventually lose interest and leave you be. But if it does manage to get hold of you before you escape, stay calm. The fourth tip from the experts covers this. Without beating around the bush, it’s going to suck, but it should ultimately protect you.

Starr revealed what he’d do if a couple of wolves attacked him. He told Quora, “I myself expect I would curl into the tightest ball possible and try to protect my head, neck, face, and sides.” Make sure you shield your throat, as that’s one of the places the animals aim for.

And here’s where things are going to get tough. Even though you’re protecting yourself as much as you can, there’s nothing to stop the wolf from biting you. It’s a painful inevitability. But if you’re doing everything right, the beast’s teeth won’t reach the areas that’ll do real damage. Just stay in position on the ground.

You’ll eventually get an opening to stand back up when the wolf eases its attack. At that stage, start to repeat what you did earlier: making your body as big as possible. This will show your adversary that you’re not going to be a pushover – regardless of the injuries you’ve been dealt.

And that brings us to the fifth and final tip. After everything that you’ve been through up to now, it’s time to fight back against the wolf. That’s right: hit its head or snout, as wolves are quite vulnerable there. One good shot could even knock it out.

If you’re lucky, the wolf may realize that you’re not like its standard prey. That alone could prompt it to walk away from the fight and head back into the wild. And even if the beast shows no signs of letting up, there are a couple of creative moves you can employ to get an edge in the battle.

One of them was used to great effect back in 2005, when Canadian man Fred Desjarlais got into a battle with an aggressive wolf. As the animal continued to go for him, he grabbed it and wrapped his arms around its face. Yep, Desjarlais applied a headlock, buying himself the time he needed so his friends could help scare the wolf away. 

Animal biology experts also believe that a well-placed fist will scare the wolf off. But this move isn’t for the faint-hearted. You need to ram your fist into the animal’s mouth until you reach the back of its throat. That way, the wolf won’t be able to clamp down on your arm or take in oxygen, so it should give up the fight. Wow, we hope so!