Wolf At the Door?

 

For many years, it's been claimed  that wolf reintroduction greatly improves the health of northern forests. The wolf packs efficiently prevent deer populations expanding. This is generally done, by the predator taking young and semi-incapacitated deer. A balance between predators and prey is achieved. Otherwise, deer populations have to be 'culled' by forest wardens with guns. Forest deer especially feed on tree saplings, preventing tree replacement after storms. Forests, also can't expand at their margins. A Leeds University study has now calculated that a reintroduction of the Grey wolf to the Scottish Highlands, would expand these native woodlands. This expansion could store an extra 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/17/wolves-reintroduction-to-highlands-could-help-native-woodlands-to-recover-says-study). There's no doubt that such a Highland reintroduction would reduce 'greenhouse gas' emissions. This would be a local contribution, countering climate change. People might even travel to see the wolf packs (it could have commercial benefit). The persistent problem (seen recently in Sweden), however, is that some groups will passionately resist the process. This will include hunters who might want to shoot wolves, as well as deer. Nearby farmers, also tend to express inflated concerns about their flocks. Humans living and/or working in such areas will worry about their (and their families?) safety. Although such risk would be very slight, folk take being consumed by wolves very personally. It's not going to be easy to get general agreement.