Wolf behavior and human safety risks analyzed

Research into wolf behavior reveals that these apex predators sometimes kill prey without consuming it. This phenomenon, often referred to as surplus killing, can occur when wolves encounter an abundance of easily accessible prey, such as livestock in fenced areas or deer trapped in deep snow. Other factors influencing this behavior include the health of the prey, environmental availability, and territorial defense.

Regarding human safety, evidence suggests that wild wolves pose an extremely low risk to people. A 2021 report by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, covering the period from 2002 to 2020, found approximately two dozen fatal attacks worldwide, most of which were attributed to rabid wolves in Asia. In North America and Europe, fatal attacks from non-rabid wolves are exceptionally rare, with only a few documented cases in the modern era.