What selective pressures characterized survival for wolves remaining in harsh, natural landscapes?

Acute hunting skills and wariness toward humans

The wolves that stayed within the pure wilderness environment continued to face natural selection pressures optimized for thriving without human interference. These pressures heavily favored traits essential for survival against nature, which included honing acute hunting skills necessary for securing large prey through complex pack coordination. Equally important was developing and maintaining a significant wariness toward humans, as direct encounters posed a threat or reduced survival efficiency in their wild niches. This pathway sharply contrasted with the selective pressures faced by the ancestral population that would eventually become domesticated.