Mexican wolves once roamed throughout America's Southwest, then they were killed off. Biologists are trying to reintroduce these wolves into the wild, but so far most have died. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, why the wolf inspires so much love, hate and mythology. Also, do wolf hybrids make good pets?

Barry Lopez, author of many books including the classic "Of Wolves and Men," tells Steve Paulson about the baggage human beings attach to the species canis lupus. He says wolves are neither evil monsters nor environmental heroes. They're wolves: intelligent social carnivores. Also, writer Rick Bass tells Jim Fleming about the controversy surrounding the thus far unsuccessful effort to re-introduce Mexican wolves into the southwestern United States. Also, Jim reads an excerpt from Rick Bass's book "The New Wolves."

World renowned wolf biologist David Mech tells Steve Paulson that scientists are still collecting basic information about wolf behavior. He describes the dynamics of a wolf pack hunting. Mech is the author of "The Wolves of Denali."

Nicole Wilde runs a wolfdog rescue center in southern California. She tells Judith Strasser that wolf-dog hybrids are intelligent and beautiful animals, but don't make good pets for most people: they can escape from almost any enclosure; they may attack moving objects, like children; and they can be very destructive. Also, Jean Craighead George, author of a children's book trilogy about wolves, tells Steve Paulson how she got hooked on wolves and how you, too, can have a wolf for a friend. The latest title in the trilogy is "Julie's Wolf Pack." Also, Jim Fleming reads an excerpt about a wolf encounter from Also Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac."

Distribution dates:

• week of 01/24/99 - hour 2