Wolves have been demonized and misunderstood for much of human history. Because wolves are highly politicized animals, common misconceptions about wolves can cause real harm. Helping to correct misinformation is an effective way to help wolves.

MYTH: Wolves kill for sport. Doug Smith, National Park Service’s (NPS) director of the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project, leads efforts to monitor wolves in Yellowstone and has been with the program since wolf reintroduction in the mid-1990s. In a Q&A series posted by the NPS, Smith explains the truth about wolf surplus killing. It’s about survival, not sport.