People fear them, but nature needs them: How wolves are changing the landscape and us

Long considered a threat, wolves are now proving to be not only predators – but also nature's doctors.

When a predator becomes a protector

A century ago, wolves were the embodiment of fear for many communities in the American West. Attacking livestock, silent shadows in the woods, terrifying howls under a moonlit sky. The result? Systematic extermination. In Yellowstone National Park, they were completely wiped out in 1926. Until scientists and conservationists realized how much had changed without them – and how much could be changed back.

The restoration of the wolf population in Yellowstone Park began in 1995. The initial results were striking. The landscape, which had suffered from deer overpopulation for decades, began to change literally before our eyes. Where herds had previously grazed without a natural predator, forests were restored. Riverbanks, previously destroyed by deer-bitten willows and cottonwoods, were regenerated. And where trees had grown back, birds, beavers, and other species returned. All thanks to a few dozen wolves.

Ecosystem like a domino: the wolf moves the first stone

This phenomenon is called a trophic cascade. It means that if a large predator enters the food chain, the effects will gradually affect all levels of the ecosystem – from large herbivores to vegetation and even river flows. This is the exact opposite of what we would expect from a “dangerous” animal.

One of the main problems in Yellowstone Park was that in the absence of wolves, the deer population got out of control. They grazed what they could. As they decreased, new plants began to appear, which in turn attracted other animals. Beavers, who need trees to build dams, returned - and with them moisture and new wetlands.

Some scientists even say that the return of wolves has changed the flow of some rivers. How? The increased vegetation on the banks has solidified soil that was previously eroding. This has changed the speed of the current, the shape of the riverbed, and the biodiversity in the river.

Human fear vs. real threat

Despite these positive changes, wolves are still seen as a problem. For farmers who fear for their livestock. For hunters who see them as competition. For people for whom the word "wolf" automatically evokes a fairy-tale predator.

But the numbers tell a different story. In the US, thousands of livestock are killed each year by wolves, while diseases, accidents, and dog attacks cause hundreds of thousands more. And there are plenty of preventative measures in place, from herding dogs to modern monitoring technology.

So the question is: why are we so afraid of something that is essential to the ecosystem?

Wolf rescue as a mirror for society

Wolf rescue programs are not just about protecting one species. They are also about changing our perception of the world. About realizing that nature is not black and white, and that every species – even the ones we fear – has its place in it.

Interestingly, in regions where there is active collaboration between farmers and conservationists, public attitudes are changing. In Montana and Wyoming, many herders now see wolves not as enemies but as part of the landscape. Education, community programs, and direct financial compensation for losses caused by predators are yielding results.

And if a person's relationship to the wolf changes, their relationship to nature as such also changes.

How wolves are changing the behavior of wildlife – and thus the entire landscape

One of the lesser-known, but extremely interesting phenomena is the change in the behavior of deer after the return of wolves. Previously, they grazed without fear anywhere – most often in river valleys, which provided plenty of water and food. However, after the wolves returned, they began to avoid these open spaces. Their movements became more cautious, they changed pastures more often and stayed less in places where a predator could easily catch them. This phenomenon is called “fear ecology” – and it leads to the regeneration of flora in places where it would otherwise not have had a chance to grow.

European experience: Wolves are returning to Slovakia

Similar stories are happening in Europe. In Slovakia, where wolves never completely disappeared, the population has stabilized in recent years. In the Tatra Mountains, the Low Tatras and the Poloniny Mountains, they are becoming a common part of the forest ecosystem. Their presence helps maintain a healthy population of wild boars, deer and roe deer, which indirectly limits damage to agricultural land. Interestingly, according to research, wolves avoid close proximity to humans and attacks on humans are extremely rare – over the past 50 years, there have been only a few incidents across Europe, and in most cases they involved injured or sick animals.

Coexistence is possible: an example from Italy

In Italy, wolves have returned to the Apennines after decades of absence. Local communities were initially skeptical, especially shepherds. However, after the introduction of a subsidy system, the provision of electric fences for herds and the deployment of specially trained guard dogs, conflicts have significantly decreased. In addition, tourist interest in “wild Italy” has increased – the wolf has become a symbol of the return of nature, and regions such as Abruzzo and Molise now benefit not only ecologically but also economically from its presence. This is proof that with the right rules and cooperation, a balance can be achieved between nature conservation and human interests.

Who actually needs whom?

Maybe we should stop asking what wolves take from us. And start asking what they give us.

Because the wolf is not just a carnivore at the end of the food chain. It is the architect of the forest, the silent guardian of the river, the unobtrusive engineer of biodiversity. And maybe when we realize this, we will stop seeing nature as something to be controlled – and start seeing it again as something that transcends us, nourishes us and protects us.