Are all Mexican wolves from captive animals and, therefore, unafraid of humans and more likely to be aggressive or attack people?
One of the primary characteristics used for selecting Mexican wolves for reintroduction is avoidance and fear of humans. Wolves that have the potential to be released must not be socialized or habituated to humans, so they are not likely to be attracted to people or human establishments once released. Mexican wolves selected for reintroduction are managed with minimal exposure to humans in an environment that fosters and maintains natural wolf behaviors. Reintroduced wolves have immediately demonstrated their retention of wild behavior upon release, including killing of wild elk within three weeks of the release of the first wolf pack in 1998. Although attacks by wolves on humans do occur, they are considered extremely rare in North America. Wolves, like any other animal, may occasionally develop some level of habituation to humans and human activity. However, observation of wolves in proximity to humans or man-made structures does not mean that wolves are likely to attack. The risk of
