A: Examining history, you can find that almost every culture throughout the world has a reference to some sort of creature similar to a werewolf.  The Greeks, the Latvians, the Romans, the English, the Egyptians, the Serbs, the Slovanians - these are only some of the many cultures whose history has legends citing humans who can shapeshift into dogs or wolves.  As is universally known, legends are often rooted in some kind of truth - and for so many cultures to make reference to the same legendary creature - the question on if werewolves exist becomes harder and harder to ignore.  There are many scientists who study the various sightings and research history seeking the answer to this question. These scientists are called cryptozoologists.

A:   There is much disagreement over why the human-wolf transformations actually occur.  The most probable causes for the shift espoused on this website include either transformations due to possession or due to infection.  The possession theory relies heavily on the belief that the full moon is involved when the individual shapeshifts.  The infection theory relies upon the belief that the shapeshift is caused by a virus / infection.

Some other obscure methods which different sources cite as causes for transformation include pacts with the devil, being cursed by black magic or witchcraft, spells, being the seventh son, or rubbing yourself with a magic solution.  There are also some references in history to a magic belt that when worn gives the bearer the ability to transform.

A:  Wolfsbane is the easiest way to protect yourself from lycanthropes.  It’s a

natural herb which works simply by repelling the beast.  Other more extreme methods to completely destroy a werewolf include silver (this is most commonly seen in movies;  it’s preferable to pierce the heart of the transformed one), mercury, and removal of the head or heart of the creature.  I’d also like to note that there is some belief that silver is not especially lethal to the creatures.

A: Many accounts of werewolf attacks have been reported to occur during the full moon, it is therefore believed that the moon plays a significant role in the transformation process.  Many lycanthropes can however eventually learn to control the shifting process with time, and not be solely reliant upon the moon’s phases.

Werewolves, also sometimes referred to as lycanthropes or shapeshifters, are one of the most popular creatures in myth, legend, and folklore.  Often linked with vampires, they are legendary creatures that have notoriously struck fear in the hearts of humans for centuries. Accounts of these shape-shifting beings can be found in many countries and throughout many of the world’s cultures.

Werewolves are actually humans that can shapeshift into wolf-like creatures, or, according to some accounts, completely into wolves. Transformations typically and traditionally are cited to occur during the full moon, which is said to have extreme influence and control over these creatures.  When a werewolf does transform, they retain human intelligence, making them especially dangerous.

It is difficult to distinguish these shapeshifters in human form.  Some accounts cite certain characteristics such as heavy-set eyebrows, long middle fingers, curved nails, thick dark hair, and hairy palms.  It is important to note however that not necessarily all or any of these characteristics might apply.