Download Article
Download Article
Wolves are dangerous, powerful predatory animals. They usually do not show aggression toward people, but it never hurts to be prepared for the worst when you find yourself in wolf territory. If you are attacked by a wolf, do not run away. Maintain eye contact, make yourself look large, and make loud, intimidating noises. Get to a safe place as soon as you can.
Steps
-
Avoid areas where wolves have been seen. Avoid being seen. If you see the wolf before it sees you, walk away silently. Stay vigilant. Remember: where there's one wolf, there are likely more wolves around. Wolves sometimes travel alone, but they almost always hunt in packs. [1] X Research source -
Back away slowly, if the wolf sees you. Always maintain eye contact, and do not turn your back. If you try to escape, keep the wolves in front of you. If the wolves get behind you, their predatory instincts may kick in. Slowly back away while facing the pack. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Don't run. Wolves are faster than you, especially when you're navigating the woods. Furthermore, running will cause a wolf's prey drive to kick in. If the wolves weren't chasing you before, there's a good chance that they'll start chasing you when you run. [3] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Act aggressively and loudly, if approached. Step towards the wolf, make noise, yell, and clap. Back away slowly. Keep acting aggressively, and keep making noise. Maintain eye contact with the wolf, and do not turn your back. [4] X Research source- Do not try to fight the wolves unless you have absolutely no other option. Wolves are strong and smart, with powerful jaws and a killer instinct. There's a chance that you'll be able to fend off a lone wolf, but you don't want to find yourself at odds with a group.
- Breathe deeply and try to keep calm. Wolves can sense your fear. If you panic, you risk freezing or running, thereby losing your ability to fight to save your life.
-
Fight back. If the wolf attacks, fend it off with sticks, rocks, bear spray, air horns, or any weapon that you have. [5] X Research source Find an easily-defensible position: stand with your back against a tree or a large rock. You don't want the wolves to get behind you.- Do not try to "hide in plain sight" or curl up into a fetal position. This will not stop a wolf from killing you. In most cases, an attacking wolf will only leave if you intimidate it and present a bigger threat than it is willing to chance.
-
Stay alert. If you do manage to drive off the wolf, get to safety calmly and quickly. Climb a tree, a boulder, or another high landscape feature. If possible, get inside a nearby car or building. [6] X Research source- Do not relax just yet. The wolf may be skulking near you or your campsite, awaiting another chance. If a wolf is particularly hungry, it may try to attack again.
-
Band together. If you are in a group that's being attacked by wolves, make sure to keep all children and injured people in the center. When wolves attack herds of prey, they target the weakest link: young, the old, and the sick. No matter what, do not break the group up. Make sure that you have a person watching in every direction so that the wolves can't outflank your group.- Wolves aim to find the weakest link in prey groups. They are viewing you all as prey. Children are the most likely to be targeted, as they are the smallest and the weakest. When wolves do attack humans, they attack children in an overwhelming majority of cases.
- This is how arctic wolves hunt musk oxen. They watch the herd from a distance, waiting for the flanks to open up when one of the adult oxen is distracted. They penetrate the interior of the herd to get to the weaker oxen within.
-
Keep a close eye on your dog. If you are hiking with your dog in wolf territory, keep the dog in your sight. Pick up its poop, keep it quiet, and try to keep it from peeing everywhere. All of these actions will attract wolves, and they will view you and your dog as intruders. Both wolves and domestic dogs use urine and droppings—along with scratches from their claws and scent rolling—to mark their territory, and wolves may attack a dog that they feel is encroaching on their territory.
Advertisement
-
Build a fire . If wolves are prowling around your camp, light a smoky fire to keep them at bay. Use green leaves and damp wood to make as much smoke as possible. When you have some smoking embers, move them near a tree, or disperse them between several trees. Apply sap or resin to the branches, and light them. Try to waft the smoke downwind toward the wolves.- Wolves dislike fire and smoke because it appears dangerous to them. If the wolves have pups around (which is likely in spring, when wolf pups are born), then the fire may cause them to move to another den site if the breeding female believes that the safety of her pups is being threatened.
-
Create a defensive shelter. Use branches, stones, sharp sticks, and other solid objects to create a barrier around your site. If well-constructed, this may keep wolves from getting in – but don't forget that they'll still be able to smell you and hear you. -
Make a lot of noise. Wolves howl to claim their territory, and they may interpret the noise as you claiming your territory. If you are in a group, sing and shout together. Be as loud and fierce as possible. [7] X Research source- Avoid trying to imitate a wolf howl . This may draw the wolf to you. Lone wolves howl to locate the other members of their pack, and wolves have been known to come running when humans imitate wolf howls.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWill colorful things attract or scare wolves?Community AnswerIt will likely do neither; wolves have weaker color vision than humans.
-
QuestionWhy would you make children and injured people targeted more? They are more vulnerable so you should protect them right?Community AnswerYou aren't making them targeted more, the wolves see them as easier prey. That is what you do, protect them. You put them in the middle so that wolves can't get to them.
-
QuestionWhat if the wolf gets mad when you make noise?Community AnswerIt might get more aggressive but that wouldn't be likely. The more noise you make the bigger the fight you'll be and every wolf has its limit.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Reader Videos
Submit a Video Tip!
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Submit a Video
Coming Soon!
Tips
- If wolves are trying to attack you, don't run! Wolves have evolved to chase fleeing prey, so running away will activate their natural hunting instinct.Thanks
- Lone wolves will rarely attempt to attack you head-on. Make yourself look larger and more intimidating by spreading your arms, flapping your jacket, and holding things in your hands. Wolves have a natural fear of humans.Thanks
- If possible, research wolves before heading out into wolf-populated area. The more you know about wolf behaviour, the better your chances of survival.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Do not try to outrun a wolf or a pack. Hold your ground in a group and keep children in the middle. Throw rocks at the wolves, make a lot of noise, and try to make yourself intimidating. One in five wolf hunts ends empty-pawed, usually when the prey stands its ground.Thanks
- Do not leave children unsupervised when hiking, camping, or otherwise moving through wolf territory. Children are vulnerable due to their size and lack of strength. They may also fail to recognize the signs of danger.Thanks
- It was once said that "the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack". If the wolves are in a pack formation, you may be outnumbered and it may be harder to drive them away. This is especially true if the pack is very large. Wolf packs are usually no larger than six, but may occasionally include up to thirty wolves in select few places, like Yellowstone.Thanks
- If you are bitten by a wolf, call 911 and go straight to a hospital. This is unlikely unless you provoke them, but it is certainly possible. You may need either a rabies vaccination or a booster shot for a rabies vaccination, just in case.Thanks
- Do not throw food to a wolf. Feeding wolves helps habituate them to humans, making them bolder and less wary of our kind. Hand-fed wolves may be more likely to attack humans in the future, as they are no longer afraid.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.alberta.ca/wolves-and-outdoor-recreation#jumplinks-2
- ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livewith.wolves
- ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/pdfs/wolf_safety_brochure.pdf
- ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/pdfs/wolf_safety_brochure.pdf
- ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/pdfs/wolf_safety_brochure.pdf
- ↑ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/livingwithwildlife/pdfs/wolf_safety_brochure.pdf
- ↑ https://www.alberta.ca/wolves-and-outdoor-recreation#jumplinks-3
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To survive a wolf attack, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact if it sees you, since turning your back or running will encourage it to chase you. If the wolf approaches you, yell or make a loud noise so it thinks you’re aggressive, which may cause it to leave you alone. Only fight the wolf off as a last resort after it has attacked you. Try to stand with your back against a tree or rock, and use sticks, bear spray, or anything else to stop the attack. As soon as the attack stops, get to safety by climbing a tree or hiding inside a building, since it’s possible the wolf could attack again. For tips on how to survive a wolf attack if you're in a group, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 512,111 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I was writing in my story about the protagonist being attacked by wolves. I wanted it to look professional, so I decided to use wikiHow because it has helped me with a lot of things before. I really like this article; it is organized and very well written." ..." more
Advertisement
86%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I was writing in my story about the protagonist being attacked by wolves. I wanted it to look professional, so I decided to use wikiHow because it has helped me with a lot of things before. I really like this article; it is organized and very well written."
..."
more
"I read this article because I was going on a camping trip with my friend. On the second day, we saw a pack of wolves near the campsite. My friend really wanted to feed the wolves, but I wouldn't let her. This article taught me how dangerous that is."
..."
more
"This gave me more facts on how to keep myself safe and what to do when either you see a wolf or when a wolf sees you. This info helped me a lot, thank you so much."
..."
more
"I'm going camping with my Girl Scout troop in the Adirondacks, and I was worried about wolves. This guide really came in handy."
..."
more
"I was making a book about wolves and want to make it as real as possible, so this was really good information for me."
..."
more
