The Myths and Realities About Humankind’s Relationship with Wolves: A story of love and hate.

Posted on by Rachel Tilseth

From a WODCW archives

Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin

Myths are folk stories used by ancient cultures to explain why an event or natural disaster happened.

In ancient times myths were used to explain away why bad things happened to people. Greek Mythology was known for representing why something happened, for example: the Greek god of the underworld, Hades, kidnapped Persephone the daughter of Demeter (goddess of growing things) for six months and this caused a change in the seasons.

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(The Greek god Hades and his wife Persephone)

Myths often vilified animals implying they were the cause of bad things happening to people. Myths (ancient and European) played a large role in contributing to misconceptions about wolves.

Yet, it’s important to recognize a few ancient cultures that worshipped wolves as a good influence.

For instance in Japanese culture farmers left offerings of food by a wolf’s den because wolves guarded crops against foregoing deer and wild boar.

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( photograph…

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Published by Rachel Tilseth

Rachel holds a Batchelor of Science Degree in Art Education and is a retired art teacher. Tilseth is a freelance writer and journalist. Tilseth’s interests in nature, specifically wolves, led her to advocate for wolves and wildlife. In the year 2000 she became involved in WI DNR Wolf Recovery Program working as a volunteer winter wolf tracker to present. She founded the blog and social media network Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin to bring education and awareness to Wisconsin’s wild wolf. Tilseth has spent several years speaking out against wolf trophy hunts. Tilseth is active in working to ban Wolf Hounding in Wisconsin. She has a strong background in the visual arts. She’s a sculptor and oil painter. Tilseth has expanded her interest into filmmaking. She’s currently in the process of creating a documentary film about the heart of wolf advocacy.