New research sheds light on 4,000 years of wolf-human-dog relations in Greenland

How do sled dogs react when wolves come near?

Why do wolves appear as moral figures in Greenlandic storytelling?

A new research study explores 4,000 years of encounters between people, dogs, and Arctic wolves - from the Saqqaq culture to today’s communities in Avanersuaq.

Based on archival sources, archaeological evidence, and 43 interviews in Kalaallisut and Inuktun, the study reveals how wolves have shaped hunting, mythology, and wildlife management in Greenland - and still do.

Possible archaeological remains of a wolf trap in South Greenland. Photographer: Arnaq Bjerge Petersen. 

Key findings include:

• Increased wolf activity near settlements in North Greenland
• Myths where wolves act as spiritual or moral beings
• Failed attempts to use wolves as draft animals
• The importance of combining scientific and local knowledge

The article calls for balanced wildlife management strategies in the Arctic - to protect both biodiversity and human safety.

The article is not open access but can be requested from the author.