Before Lewis' work, equations to predict where wolves establish boundary lines were statistical, meaning they were designed to match observations of where wolves were seen. They are more likely to be seen near a den than at the edge of their territory. Lewis' method isn't just a set of formulas designed to make predicted territory lines match real ones. Instead, his equations result in maps of territory boundaries based on behavior, namely, how wolves urinate on other packs' scent marks and move away from those foreign scent marks. People are concerned about the interactions with humans and livestock.
People are concerned about the impact on prey populations such as the elk in Yellowstone.
The management of wolves requires that we know where they are. Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Helena, Mont., said he wanted to review Lewis' research but wasn't sure how it might help his efforts to reintroduce wolves in Idaho and Yellowstone. Wolves once lived anywhere where prey was available in North America north of Mexico City, and still could live anywhere, Bangs said. The reason they don't is people kill them. So if you try to predict where wolves live, you're talking about where people will let them live.