Source: Untapped Cities
While reintroducing wolves in many areas has been controversial the introduction of wolves into New York City wasn’t controversial at all, since it took care of a much more serious problem. The Mayor Ed Koch Wolf Foundation, which has a new monument to the decision to release wolves in New York City parks, explains the history:
In the late 1970s, New York Mayor Edward I. Koch launched an unprecedented campaign against subway graffiti. The city employed new guardians to patrol its vast train yards—wolves. Captured from upstate New York and set loose in various borough depots, the wolves successfully kept taggers at bay until anti-graffiti technology eliminated the need for the animals.
It goes on to explain that the wolves then migrated underground and survive in tunnels, although I think this had absolutely nothing to do with graffiti, which the wolves did nothing to prevent, and it was really an excuse to distract people from the problem of alligators in the sewers.
Why wolves? For that matter, where wolves? “There! There wolf! There castle!” as Marty Feldman said, but that’s another story.
Lycanthropy has long been a subject of fascination. There’s also ursanthropy–transformation into a bear–which isn’t as well known, although the term “berserk” can trace its etymology back to an Icelandic term for warriors who wore bearskins in the belief they would impart the bear’s power. And that’s really useful if you want to go into battle and eat a ton of salmon and blueberries. Maybe that’s why werewolves are more famous: bears hibernate through the winter, but wolves are on the prowl all year long, and lycanthropes can be out even when there’s not a full moon.
Now I’m not saying there are werewolves among New York City’s wolves. I’m also not not saying there are werewolves among New York City’s wolves. New York City is a big place that’s seen a lot of history, and if you can’t find werewolves there you can’t find ’em anywhere. And if wolves, or werewolves, can make it in New York City they can make it anywhere.
Honestly I’m surprised New York’s werewolf population, or just its wolf population, hasn’t become a bigger tourist attraction. As the monument reminds us tourists have a real way of attracting wolves.
Anyway there’s something to look out for if you’re ever in New York. Just don’t go looking after dark.
Honestly, Chris, I’m just glad when I make it to your blog. Thanks for making this post. Its here, there, and where were perfect.
I’m glad I can always look out for your comments, even after dark.
You present a strong case. There are wolves in our neighbourhood and they scare the shite out of me. But maybe it is because they are transitioning and I haven’t been sensitive to their plight. I’d be angry and frothing too if no one understood me. Off to pet a wolf and encourage him through this tough time.
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It’s nice that you want to encourage the wolves, especially the ones who might be transitioning, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to get close.
I am not surprised given the increasing number of sightings of the so called dogman in Muchigan and Texas and mostly everywhere in the world. In Argentina is being seen everywhere. Strange times we are living.