To think being scared by wolves is normal?

[PokeAndyInTheEye]

Just that really, you’re hiking and up ahead you see a big dog - then another big dog - then you realise they’re not dogs. AIBU to think it’s pretty normal to panic at this point? Or is it worthy of ridiculing someone over?

There's a reason why we light fires and lock our doors at night. Wolves will eat our babies!

Depends whether you’re in known wolf territory. If you’re a couple of miles outside Hathersage, pisstaking is kind of deserved.

More detail needed of the wolf situation (where are you that you encountered a pack of wolves?) Panicking is not advisable in any situation though, those wolves can smell your fear.

😆

Catastrophising should always be ridiculed by our loved ones or ourselves so we’re enabled to stop doing it - it’s not healthy.

But if you were hiking in known wolf-territory then obvs you need to act accordingly.

You could always try dancing with them.

Montana

a few years ago now but the ridicule continues. They just ran off in the end

Nah. I walk with two wolfhounds. Wolves aren’t a problem!

Benelli M4, not cheap though.

I’ve seen them when hiking in the mountains in Italy. They were far less alarming than a field of larky bullocks.

I am of the opinion that, unless starving - so during high winter - wolves will almost always avoid any contact with humans. Practically any other animal is better prey than a human; they fight back, don't have much meat on them and aren't a good utilisation of calories in chasing, killing and eating. So a wolf on its own (possibly injured, in pain and starving) may be a danger, a pack together are less likely to attack and can almost always be routed with a lot of noise and disruption on your part.

I live outside York, and realise that I may be abnormal for my concentration on wild animal behaviour when a stoat is the biggest threat I am likely to encounter.

Scared maybe but panicking isn't necessarily helpful. I think a couple of wolves would probably run away from adult humans.

Fear of wolves and bears is pretty much baked into our genes. It's sensible to be at least wary of wolves and stay out of their way.

Panicking doesn't really help in any situation, but ridiculing someone for being nervous is pretty cruel and stupid.

I think it depends on what panic means. Like did you push someone towards them and run the other way screaming? Piss yourself… drop like one of those fainting goats… something else?

I mean yeah I can see a certain amount of piss taking even years after. That’s the sort of thing that gets memorialized in family lore.

I think it doesn't matter what it is that scared you - the fact that the piss taking of presumably a friend or family member has gone on for years is actually really nasty.

I agree with you.
I am not a fan of dogs anyway but would be wary of wild animals like wolves, coyote and even small bears.

I'd be cautious but wouldn't panic. Bears, on the other hand...

Always wanted to visit Montana.

Is it a case of human expansion going out into wolf territory?

Are they used to humans at all?

I was lucky enough to meet a wolf pack this summer.

They are large, intelligent hunters - at a basic level, I felt a frisson of fear.

However, unless they are starving or you threaten their den, wolves would rather run away from you than attack you. I was instructed to sit still and not move so I did not spook them.

Most humans loom over them and they have much better prey options than us. Attacking a full-grown adult, for example, would injury pack members.

I don't think most of the human race realise how terrifying we are to other species.

Not unreasonable in Montana to be a bit ‘uh oh…’ if you saw a couple of wolves. I agree with pp though, they are pretty unlikely to attack humans.

If you screamed and ran away or something else over the top, then I’d say you were BU!

I think they're laughing at your reaction rather than your rationale if that makes sense. Panic is normal but when you're at home and cosy and safe and adrenaline is gone it can be funny.

Do wolves enjoy hiking in the Italian mountains then?

(Sorry, couldn't resist... just had a lovely image of them with backpacks and walking poles...)

I live near a zoo. About a week after w moved in, sitting in the garden as the sunset we heard the howling start. It was actually unsettling. We are used to the animal noises now!

Are you talking about the two legged ones?

I’ve actually met wolves in a sanctuary (can’t recall if we were allowed to stroke them). Very similar to dogs and in fact more scared of us than we were of them.