Gray wolves elicit conflicting reactions in American culture, from awe and reverence to fear and hatred. They are also a hot topic lately, as different groups and political forces argue about whether they should be included on the federal endangered species list and whether states like Wisconsin should allow hunting seasons for them. But how did the gray wolf get on the endangered species list in the first place? And why do some Wisconsinites, and Americans in general, seem trigger-happy when it comes to wolves?
In this episode of Hot Topics, hosts Norma Behrend-Martinez and Grace Martin explore the state of the wolf hunt in Wisconsin as well as the deeper cultural and environmental history of wolf-human relationships. Assisted by UW–Madison Professor Adrian Treves, they also delve into the deep insight and fundamentally different philosophies offered by indigenous perspectives on wolves.