Were wolves introduced to Ireland by people?

Question

I understand that wolves were hunted to extinction in Ireland during Victorian times. Did they exist there naturally or were they brought there by humans, like the dingo was taken to Australia by people, as, I also understand, there were never any wild cats or snakes in Ireland?

Answer 1

Few species of mammal are thought to have survived the last glacial maximum in Ireland (Irish hare and stoat are possible exceptions.)

Wolves were not introduced to Ireland by humans, they colonized the island naturaly after the last glaciers retreated. It is thought that a landbridge between the Britain and Ireland existed for a short period at this point (around10,000 - 12,000 years ago). (A similar landbridge existed between Britain and mainland Europe, this bridge was longer lasting and more extensive).

Answer 2

The presence of wolves in Ireland can be traced as far back as 30,000 years. The first archaeological remains and earliest evidence of wolves in Ireland was 34,000 BP (before present), based on radio carbon data,  found in Castlepook cave near The Doneraile Wildlife National Park, Co. Cork, (Hickey 2000).

Wolf bones have been found in the counties of Waterford and Clare and some of these remains are on display at the National History Museum in Dublin. Ireland had a large population of wolves around the sixteenth century just before they started being hunted. Ireland was a perfect environment for wolves to prosper due to the large oak forests and relative non-existence of other large predators, excluding man.

It is believed that there could have been more then 1000 wolves living in Ireland at one time. These numbers are based on two methods of quantitative research (Hickey 2000):

Answer 3

There were wolves in Scotland I don't think there was in Ireland, and there certainly wasn't any in Victorian times.

Answer 4

there were never wolves in ireland EVER

Answer 5

Yes, and I can imagine it went something like this...Wolf meet the People of Ireland-People of Ireland this is wolf.

How do you do? I am Wonderful ..So nice of you to ask.

My what big teeth you have...

The article below says wolves predated humans in Ireland but it seems to be a touchy subject for you all.

Answer 6

there were a species of wolf and moose on ireland and much what is now the UK..

they were hunted to exstinction a couple thousand years ago.. not hundred

Answer 7

There have never been wolves (or snakes) in Ireland.  The last wolf was killed in England in the seventeenth century, and in Scotland in the eighteenth century. (Not two thousand years ago).