Conservation: Yellowstone’s wolves have proved over and over again how important an apex predator can be to an ecosystem. Their restoring presence means that every large mammal that was in the ecosystem 400 years ago is also there now. Not surprisingly, the presence of wolves on the landscape presents issues of tolerance and conflict with people. This much maligned animal of myth has seemingly always held a place in our mind’s eye as a villain. I think perhaps it is the similarities we share. This reflection of our animal selves might poke and prod at our long-suppressed hunter-gatherer. In truth, the easiest way to live with grey wolves is more basic than emotions dictate. Wolves with stable packs will be taught by the pack how to successfully hunt elk. In the absence of teachers, wolves will eat whatever they can catch to survive. “Slow elk,” aka cattle, become part of the menu. By leaving packs intact, we minimize domestic animal conflict. When we hunt wolves, we splinter packs and increase wildlife conflicts, which increases depredation killings, resulting in the deaths of more wolves. This leads to the colonization of an area by new, less stable packs, again increasing conflict. Stop hunting wolves and shooting ourselves in the foot.