Demand for wolf dogs leaves wolf conservationists howling

Demand for wolf hybrids is surging, and so are concerns among conservationists

They warn the phenomenon not only threatens the lives of wolves, but humans as well

National Geographic reports some wolfdog breeders have seen demands for the breeds

go from hundreds of requests to thousands in a relatively short period of time

As demand has risen, so has the black market. More than 200 illegally mixed hybrids were seized in 2017 by Italian authorities

reportedly smuggled in from North America, Scandinavia, and the Balkans. The legality of owning a wolf dog in Italy is nuanced

Wolf dogs' DNA must be put into a national registry, and international rules mean they must be of at least the fourth generation to be kept as pets

In the U.S., laws vary from state to state. In some states, it's legal to own a hybrid without a permit

while in others, a permit is required. Ownership is banned altogether in multiple states

Wolf dog ownership has sometimes turned deadly, like in the case of a 74-year-old Italian woman who was killed by her daughter's five wolf dogs while caring for them in a two-bedroom apartment

There have also been more than 20 documented cases of deadly wolf dog attacks in the U.S. between 1978 and 2023

Wolf conservationists also say many wolf hybrids end up abandoned because owners aren't prepared for the tall task of caring for them

They note they require big areas to roam around and do not take kindly to being kept in a house

There are reportedly more than half a million wolf hybrids in the U.S. Reputable breeders of wolf dogs say the animals are safe if bred and trained right

Conservationists argue the practice not only is dangerous, but harms wolf rehabilitation efforts globally

and warn many wild wolves are at risk of capture as part of illegal hybrid breeding efforts

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