"There has never been a documented case of a healthy, wild wolf killing a human in North America." This is a quote that many experts still believe is true today. But is it really true, or is it full of rhetoric to ease the minds of the public that we are safe for the reintroduction of wolves in our western states. Whether you like it or not, wolves are back and coming to a state near you before you know it. There has not been a hotter, more debated and emotional topic than the reintroduction of wolves into Wyoming and now into Idaho. Are you ready? Are the sheep and cattle ready? Are the elk herds ready?

Is it right or wrong for wolves to be reintroduced here in the West? That is for you to decide, but let's look at a few things before you start reading up on countless studies, opinions, experts and anyone else that has a point of view - because whatever viewpoint you take, you will find a study or expert to back you up. You may just have to go with your gut on this one and leave the experts, the well-intentioned but misguided animal rights activists, environmentalists and politicians to fight it out amongst themselves.

What is a wolf attack? This can be very confusing, especially for the general public since there are supposedly different meanings to the word "attack". In August 1987, a 16-year-old girl was bitten by a wild wolf in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario. The girl was camping in the park with a youth group and shined a flashlight at the wolf. The wolf reacted to the light by biting the girl on the arm. That bite was not hard and due to the thick sweater and sweatshirt the girl was wearing, she sustained two scratch marks on her arm. The wolf was shot by Natural Resources personnel and tested negative for rabies. Well-known wolf biologist Dr. David Mech took issue with this attack stating it couldn't really be considered an authentic attack since the girl wasn't injured more severely.

In British Colombia wolves overran Vancouver Island in the 1980s. Attacks became so common that articles were published in Canadian magazines documenting such attacks. Biologists tell us that wolves of Asia and North America are one and the same species, and when you look at the numbers you realize wolf attacks are common in many parts of Asia. The government of India reported more than 100 deaths attributable to wolves in one year during the eighties. Perhaps the Government does not understand what constitutes an "attack"?

Milton P. Skinner in his book The Yellowstone Nature Book published in 1924) wrote, "Most of the stories we hear of the ferocity of these animals ... come from Europe. There, they are dangerous because they do not fear man, since they are seldom hunted except by the lords of the manor. In America, the wolves are the same kind, but they have found, to their bitter cost, that practically every man and boy carries a rifle..."

Skinner was correct. The areas of Asia where wolf attacks occur on humans are the same areas where the people have no firearms or other effective means of predator control.

But how can biologists claim that there are no documented cases of healthy wild wolves attacking humans? What they mean to say is there are no "documented" cases that meets their "criteria" for attacks - which also excludes historical accounts.

Dr. David Mech, USFWS wolf biologist, states there are no "documented" cases of rabid wolves below the fifty-seventh latitude north (near Whitehorse, Yukon Territory). When asked what "documented" meant, he stated, "The head of the wolf must be removed, sent to a lab for testing, and found to be rabid."

As with rabid wolves, the biologist can say, "There are no "documented" cases of wild healthy wolves attacking humans." In order to be "documented" these unreasonable criteria must be met:

1. The wolf has to be killed, examined and found to be healthy.

2. It must be proven that the wolf was never kept in captivity in its entire life.

3. There must be eyewitnesses to the attack.

4. The person must die from their wounds (bites are generally not attacks according to the biologists).

Once all four criteria are met, a "documented" attack can become official.

Biologists assume when a wolf attacks a human that there must be something wrong with the wolf. It's either been in captivity or it's sick or whatever. They neither examine the evidence in an unbiased manner nor use historical test data. Today predator control is very restricted in scope, and as a result, attacks on humans by predators are becoming more common.

I don't know about you, but that is a lot for the average Joe to understand and be able to decide for themselves what is best for wolf and man.

We will buy your tolerance. That is what the Defenders of Wildlife will do if you have wolf depredation problems. In 1999, the Defenders of Wildlife compensated ranchers nearly $50,000 for livestock predation from wolf and grizzly bears. Wolves are causing problems, but money seems to be a great factor in helping people look the other way. Money will buy wolf supporters time, and nobody really knows the consequences of what will happen in the future as wolves continue to migrate into other areas. If you agree that wolves should be brought back then you have a powerful money-loaded support group that will be happy to accept you into their fold. Support groups will do anything to keep wolves out of trouble and not cause any negative criticism - even so far as to camp out in the hills with bells and whistles to keep wolves away from grazing livestock.

Again, looking at different studies from experts, you will find whatever results you are after. Wolf experts told the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to expect major changes in Idaho's elk and deer populations and hunting opportunities after wolves become established in the state.

Four different scientists reported on the long-and short-term decline in elk and deer populations followed by a rebound as predator and prey populations reach equilibrium. How long are the long-term effects? None claims to know what will happen in Idaho. Wolves were reintroduced into Idaho in 1995-96. There are currently about 260 wolves in the state. However, what we do know is wolves like to eat elk that make up to 86 percent of their diet.