Here, at least in the west, they are 'managed' fairly carefully. There are funds from the various state game departments to 'pay off' predation kills from wolves (If your sheep were killed by a cougar there's no money for it because they were a pre existing predator) so a lot of people know the difference between a cougar kill and a wolf kill.

In Idaho the cost is offset some by hunting tags. Yep, wolves have been so successful there that they have a hunting season now.

I don't know what that has to do with your post, but...