Yet the myths and legends make it clear that the hunting prowess of the wolf is admired as is its intelligence. That wolves, like us, live in families undoubtedly also had its impact upon our ancestors. Perhaps our feelings towards wolves are part of our evolutionary heritage just as our fear of snakes and spiders may well be. These seem to be innate and not learned fears as most people in the Western world do not encounter dangerous spiders or snakes. There is a case of a chimpanzee, raised in captivity and which had never seen a snake, screaming in terror at the sight of a rubber hose left on the floor as if its fear of snakes was instinctive.
Wolves are creatures which humans can both relate to and yet fear.
Like us and yet very different. They occupy a prominent role in many myths, legends, and fair-tales from Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, to the werewolf. One theme of wolf myths is the wolf as a nurturing maternal figure feeding lost or abandoned human infants. This is the story of Romulus and Remus , the founders of Rome. There are similar ideas in the legends of Indians in North America, the Persian Zoroaster, and the Teutonic hero, Siegfried.