Thinking Like A Wolf

As well-written and well-researched as this book is, it’s not for everyone. In fact, it’s for specific audiences who have specific opinions about wolves. Written by Rick McIntyre, a retired National Park Service ranger who spent more than 40 years in national parks observing and documenting wolves, the narrative is an accumulation of thousands of hours of field notes taken during his time in Yellowstone. McIntyre has published eight books about wolves – Thinking Like A Wolf is his most recent – and clearly feels an allegiance to the polarizing animals he has watched for decades.

The specificity of the book begins with the Foreword written by Frans de Waal (who died in 2024 which is the same year the book was published). That two-and-a-half page start to the book told me everything I needed to know regarding de Waal’s and McIntyre’s feelings on wolves. They care. Sentence one: “Both revered and vilified, the wolf is one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet.” So true. I believe the negative attitude towards wolves starts at childhood as kids read about the fictional “Big Bad Wolf.” This scary character wreaks havoc in multiple children’s cautionary tales (e.g. Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs) and needs to be retired. Wolves aren’t villains but if kids learn that as a young age they might become adults who have that perception – whether they realize it or not. Maybe McIntyre’s work should be required reading for elementary school kids! Just a thought.

Wolf History

As a Colorado resident, I have a front row seat to all the controversy surrounding the recent reintroduction of wolves. While many Colorado residents strongly dislike this decision, my opinion is similar to that of de Waal and McIntyre which is that wolves belong here. McIntyre writes about the 1995 reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone (after they were killed off in the 1920s and then put on the endangered species list in 1974) and how some people are coming to terms with the positive impacts wolves have on the ecosystem. A major issue is the ranchers who blame wolves for killing their cattle. But the wolf/rancher feud isn’t what this book is about. Says McIntyre, “My mission is to reach as many people as possible and bring them to the side of the wolves.”

Going back to the Foreword – de Waal points out that McIntyre’s open-ended scientific approach sets him apart because he starts from observations rather than hypotheses. He also says that the author’s accounts “will inspire future generations of naturalists by telling them what to look for and what to expect.” Big words. He then reminds the reader that people should be worried about the future of wolves – especially since wolves’ “overall effect on ecosystems are highly favorable” and that their “danger to human life is minimal.” In short, de Waal paves the way for the next 200 pages of descriptions and explanations regarding the tendencies and behaviors of wolves. And reminds the reader that a wolf attacking a human is extremely rare.

Writing Style

Any science, wolf, or Yellowstone nerd will appreciate McIntyre’s meticulous attention to detail regarding his observations and portrayals of the various Yellowstone wolf packs he followed for years. The level of information he knows about their hierarchy, mating habits, hunting habits, and pack dynamics is unbelievable. “Wolves, like humans, are thinking beings that are constantly making choices and decisions.” Over the course of the book, he drives home many points about the similarities between wolves and people, and how much humans can learn from them, but his most significant point is the importance of family. Similar to humans, wolves have “the ambition to better [their] situation in life and start a family in a place that offers [their] sons and daughters the opportunity to thrive.”

In addition to family, McIntyre sees wolves as extremely resilient – no matter what hardships or tragedies they endure. He also talks about the bravery that makes certain packs more successful than others and the importance of never giving up. When specific wolves he admired and/or had been watching for a long time pass away, it’s really hard on him. Those losses take a toll because he genuinely cares. McIntyre also constantly speaks to the impressive camaraderie, courage, and strategic behavior exhibited by wolves and clearly identifies with them in a lot of ways as he is a lone wolf himself. He points out that he has never had a government office, desk, phone, or computer because he never wanted any of those things. But he almost mentions multiple times that he is impressed by wolves’ cooperation and teamwork capabilities.

For research purposes, each wolf is assigned different names or numbers based on the way they are observed and/or radio collared which allows them to become “characters” in the bigger picture that is Yellowstone. But these creatures mean much more to McIntyre than research. For example, 926 holds a special place in his heart and he says he thinks about her every day. On page 212, he lists all the things he learned from watching her: 1) You do not judge someone by how many times they get knocked down, but by how many times they get back up. 2) She always confronted her problems rather than running away. 3) She did not allow circumstances or others dictate her story. 4) She controlled her own destiny. He adds, “Her story is a celebration of resiliency and empowerment.” McIntyre was so invested in her and, I assume, prefers wolves over people.

Throughout the book, McIntyre makes some random pop culture references – for example, citing Shania Twain on page 38 and Star Wars on page 68 – which are almost laughable because they seem so out of character for this serious scientist author. He also drops in anecdotes about personal and professional milestones – from the thousands of days he’s been watching wolves in Yellowstone to book awards – which help keep the narrative going but seem a bit random as well. In some cases, those anecdotes need better transitions and/or context.

Facts I Learned:

• The average size of a Yellowstone wolf pack is 10 wolves (a mix of adults and pups).
• About 15 percent of wolf deaths in Yellowstone are caused by prey animals during hunts (e.g. an elk injuring a wolf as a method of self-defense).
• When younger wolves see adult wolves take action in a crisis, they overcome their natural feelings of panic and fear and therefore have the confidence to charge forward with the adults. (A wolf life lesson that can be applied to humans).
• 25 percent of Yellowstone wolves are radio-collared for research purposes.
• Young wolves are capable of altruistic behavior.
• “When a pet dog licks the face of returning human friend, it is a remnant of the behavior of their wolf ancestors.”
• On average, a Yellowstone wolf weighs approximately 100 pounds.
• “One wolf can change the longtime culture of a pack.”
• Rivalries between wolves and packs can be put aside for the good of the pack. (There’s definitely a lesson to be learned here).
• Wolves have an antiseptic component in their saliva and their cooperative behavior and care for the wounded goes back thousands of years.
• The pronghorn antelope is the fastest animal in Yellowstone and can run up to 65 miles per hour. A wolf can run up to 35 miles per hour.

Overarching Themes

In an effort to change the narrative surrounding wolves, McIntyre’s thesis is showing the reader the similarities between wolves and humans. He humanizes their resilience, cooperation, family dynamics, and support for one another to remind those who have an aversion to wolves that the species has a lot of human tendencies. As someone who is a wolf fan, I didn’t need convincing, but I did learn a lot. While McIntyre’s stance on wolves is obvious, on pages 175-178 he gets real about how killing wolves negatively impacts the economy and that the word “harvested” is not synonymous with “killed, shot, or trapped.” He blatantly says, “Wolves are far more valuable to the local economy alive than dead.”

On a personal note, I can relate to the wolf/human comparisons as I have had or been around wolf-looking German Shepherd/Husky dogs for 35 years. Both Sedona and Zephyr showed/show pack mentalities and were/are very conscious of where Fleet, Wookie, and I are at all times. It is very cool. Hopefully this book helps McIntyre achieve his mission of bringing people to the side of wolves – I’ve been on their side my whole life.

Quotes:

“The two species on Earth that are most similar in social behavior are wolves and humans.”

“Wolves rarely bark, but when they do, it warns other pack members of danger.”

“It does not matter if we are thinking about wolf packs or human armies: the best victories are the ones you don’t have to fight.”

“926 always chose to do something about whatever was holding her back.”

“Over my many years watching wolves, I have never seen a male wolf intervene when two females are squabbling. I figured it was a sign of their intelligence.” (He’s got jokes)!

“907 was…the most successful mother wolf we ever had in Yellowstone.”

Scott Frazier regarding wolf reintroduction: “It’s good to be part of putting something back, rather than taking something away.”