It’s unconscionable and truly disappointing that our modern-day storytellers continue to vilify wolves, thereby perpetuating the myth that they are ferocious predators who actively stalk and viciously hunt humans. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, over the last hundred years in the U.S., there have been no documented human deaths attributed to wild wolves.

The wolf scenes in Del Toro’s Frankenstein, which aren’t depicted in Mary Shelley’s original novel, are used as a fear-mongering tactic. These scenes are wholly unnecessary and add nothing to the story. Instead, they reinforce fears and animosity toward this remarkable keystone species, ultimately setting back the crucial efforts of those of us who work tirelessly to promote wolf recovery and conservation. I know this firsthand because it’s been the focus of my life for over twenty-five years.

Such depictions are nothing new; wolves have the worst P.R. on the planet. For thousands of years, they’ve been portrayed in literature, from the Bible to Grimm’s fairytales, as being associated with the devil, werewolves, and even vampires. Movies are no better. Recently, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast depicted wolves ferociously attacking Belle. For stories like these to work, a good-versus-evil component is considered necessary, and sadly, wolves are often chosen to play the role of evil.

The truth is that wolves are fearful of humans, and rightfully so. Before the European colonists arrived, an estimated 250,000 to 2 million wolves lived in the U.S. In fact, wolves were once the most widely distributed land mammals in the world. However, after the settler’s arrival on our soil, wolves were eradicated to near extinction through bounties, hunting, trapping, and poisoning. Today, we have around 14,000 wolves, the majority of which reside in Alaska.

The two wolf species I work directly with are the Mexican gray wolf and the Red Wolf. When wolf reintroduction programs began for these two species in the late ’70s and early ’80s, there were only seven Mexican gray wolves and 14 red wolves left in the world. We, and other organizations like ours, are still desperately attempting to save these species from extinction, but thanks to misconceptions and political pressures, these two species remain critically endangered.

Wolves aren’t just majestic; they are essential. As apex predators, they occupy a top niche in the natural food chain. They create, restore, and maintain healthy ecosystems. When they are absent, ecosystems decline significantly. And, contrary to what you may have heard, wolves kill only .002% of livestock. Coyotes and domestic dogs kill more livestock than wolves do. And there are myriad tools and practices proven to deter wolf predation that ranchers can utilize successfully.

Indigenous tribes around the world lived in harmony with wolves, whom they greatly admired and respected. It is believed that our fear of wolves began when humans started to distance themselves from nature, to enslave and exploit it, with the advent of agriculture.

But there is some good news on the wolf front. Recent surveys reveal that Americans overwhelmingly (78%) support protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, including 79% of people who self-identified as farmers/ranchers. But, as with so much in life, those opposed to protections often have the loudest voices, the deepest pockets, and the ability to exert unfair political pressure.

President Trump’s administration is currently proposing broad changes that would effectively eliminate grey wolves and many other animals from the Endangered Species Act, to ease conditions for industries such as logging, development, and oil and gas drilling.

The call to action has never been more urgent. Our storytellers must appreciate that the cinematic spectacles they portray on screen may ultimately have profound and dire implications for wildlife. Rather than perpetuating fear and spreading misinformation, it is more important than ever that our books and films educate audiences about the ecological importance of wildlife and promote coexistence. Is this too much to ask?

Martha Hunt Handler is an award-winning novelist, an impassioned wolf advocate and an avid environmentalist. Her debut novel, Winter of the Wolf, was chosen as a Barnes and Noble Top Indy Pick. Martha has been with the Wolf Conservation Center (nywolf.org), for over 29 years and has served as the Board President for over ten years.