I'm currently playing as an Orc warrior who uses no magic or fast travel. I seem to be expected to single handedly wipe out the entire wolf population in Skyrim for some reason. If I journey from say fort dawnguard to Whiterun it seems I get attacked by about 15-20 wolves on this one journey.

Not only are they now silent but they are a real nuisance every 5 minutes with their endless attacks and numbers. There seems to be more wolves in Skyrim than Skeevers (rats) which is somewhat odd as well. I cant even cast a calm spell at them as my character uses no magic and I'm starting to find them plain irritating. Anyone else experience this plague of wolves, there's plenty of deer and rabbits around they could eat instead of me. What's it all about I ask.

I'd suggest paying closer attention to your surroundings. Wolves have their own 'territory', and usually they will allow you to get so close before they attack. You'll know if you're infringing on their territory without outright antagonising them - they'll be bowed and snarling. I assume you play on X-Box or PS3 since the unofficial patches fix the no-howling issue; however, even with howling people still need to watch their step...

Yes I'm on xbox and I do pay attention (although I can no longer hear them). They just seem to come out of nowhere and attacking me while I'm out for a quiet stroll minding my own business.

Be careful of the local geography, as rocky outcroppings and other features blocking your vision can conceal a pack of wolves. By the time you see the wolves, it's too late. They definitely have a territory, though, so it means you're getting too close.

You can have the wolves. Makes my job of eliminating the entire goat population of Skyrim that much easier.

Doesn't seem to matter where I am, if I go for a wander about in the snow I'll meet ice wolves and the standard type just about anywhere else. I usually play mage types so would just calm them or whatever so didn't take much notice of them, but now I'm killing about 30 an hour.

You have a vicious goat problem?

Again, it means you're getting too close. They only attack at that point. I don't have problems with wolves or bears as long as I keep my distance.

Problem is that it's not like I can hear them as they're silent in my game so not much of a warning as to when they're about. If I could actually hear them I might be able to take evasive action, it's even worse at night when I'm wandering about as they just come out of nowhere. Quite often they attack me from behind, ok one whack with the skyforge axe and they're wasted but it's quite irritating culling these creatures as I actually like wolves.

Is this character relatively new? I drown in wolves at low levels.

For single wolves, a low-level Illusion spell like Fear or Calm is fairly effective. So is the Kyne's Peace shout.

You should be introduced to the cliff racers.

His character doesn't make use of magic. And, again, he can't hear the wolves.

I think the number of wolves in the game is unrealistic. There's a spot in the Falkreath, in the vicinity of the shrine of Talos, where a pack of more than 5 wolves attack you at the same time. I think it's scripted.

Wolves have often proven a significant threat in the real world, so there's no reason for the wilds of Skyrim to be any different. There is no balance in nature, and both predator and prey can be over-populated. I'd reckon those Thalmor patrols are a significant source of sustenance for the wolves of Skyrim...

Besides, 'unrealistic' is a relative term - deities that actually exist and often take part in mortal affairs, different dimensions you can visit, real werewolves and vampires, dragons, magic spells, giant killer spiders, undead patrolling ancient crypts et al... yeah, I don't think the realism (or lack of) as regards the number of wolves in the game is that much of an issue - they are an enemy to fight, especially since the random encounters don't guarantee any hostile engagements. If we cut the wolves, what do we replace them with? Non-hostile creatures? Other hostile creatures? Certain hostiles attack on sight, like spiders (no territory you can skirt around - once they have detected you, that's it!), so that isn't a solution. I believe the main problem here is the lack of howling and line of sight - no sound and Craig1405 has to rely on being able to see the wolves, and that isn't always possible before you enter too far into their territory.

Well, then you can run away, or stay out of the wild. Or use Slow/Paralyze poison. Or just deal with having to kill the wolves.

Bottom line is there are too many wolves (unrealistic relative to the space and prey available), AND they're WAY WAY too aggressive. They clearly would be extinct by now if they truly couldn't resist attacking everything on site with kamikaze suicidal disregard for their own well being. Such animals wouldn't and couldn't exist, on any world.

They should be fewer in number, and way way more timid. Attacking only if they opportunistically perceive that you are at an extreme disadvantage (injured, exhausted, about to die), this is how wolves are in the real world, and it's not random chance that they're like that here, it's that way because it has to be because it's the only way they make sense as an animal and can exist.

No, but they're everywhere, and they make great target practice.

Skyrim definitely could have used more biodiversity in terms of antagonistic animals. And in terms of creatures in general.

I think they're way too aggressive since it makes absolutely no sense that they would charge into battle with a group of soldiers/warriors, dragons, giants, etc,. This gave me an idea. I cranked up the CK and made a couple of edits to the wolves and tweaked their aggressiveness so that they're more likely to run away rather than make suicidal attacks. That's the beauty of playing TES games on PC. You can easily fix the things that annoy you.

http://i.imgur.com/rA832.gif

They do have a territory, and they do not attack on sight - that has been my experience in each and every encounter with wolves. You have to get so close before they do so; Craig1405 was clearly too far within the wolves' territory in each instance. No howling and limited line of sight are the primary causes of his problem - at least if he could hear howling, he'd know they were somewhere nearby before it was too late.

All Hail the Might cliff racer.

I haven't put much time into Morrowind myself yet but I all ready hate the things.