Reintroducing the wolf to the Scottish Highlands was first proposed back in the late 1960s. However the idea did not really take hold or start to gain wider publicity and support until after the reintroductions of the red wolf to the south-eastern United States in 1989, and the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Although there have been media reports about this subject over the years since then, most proposals reported were unfounded and lacking in scientific credibility.

In order for any reintroduction of the wolf to Scotland to be successful, it is first necessary to secure a safe and viable future for wolves in the areas of Europe where they have managed to survive human persecution. These areas where they have returned must be assisted by legal protection and European policies that encourage the conservation of native habitats such as the flora and fauna. With these conditions successfully in place the lessons from this can then be applied to the challenge of living alongside the wolves in the Scottish Highlands.

In addition to these factors, the British government is required to consider the reintroduction of native species under article 22 of the EU Habitats and Species Directive of 1992. But any proposal for reintroduction of wolves to Scotland would have to be approved first by the Scottish Natural Heritage, a government organization that is responsible for wildlife and habitats in Scotland. Currently their position remains that they have no plans to consider the reintroduction of wolves. It has been suggested that is not going to change until they are convinced that the reintroduction would be widely welcomed by the majority of land users and interests in Scotland. If it is not and it still remains a controversial issue then there would be little chance of them approving such a proposal.

There is hope for the future though. In particular, agriculture in Scotland, specifically sheep farming, a major stumbling block for returning the wolves, is changing. As of January 2005 subsidies based on production, payments received per head of sheep or cattle, were replaced by Single Farm Payments. This entailed that farms would receive a subsidy regardless of whether livestock are grazed, or crops grown. Subsidy recipients must also meet new rules for the Good Agricultural or Environmental Condition. This change, along with new grants for regeneration of native woodland, could see sheep being replaced by woodland restoration, therefore increasing suitable habitat for both the wolves and their prey.

Currently there is a trial reintroduction of the beaver in Scotland and with the success of this and the reintroduction of other animals such as the wild boar, Scotland may indeed be ready to welcome the wolf back into it's forests.