How to Kill a Werewolf

Before you embark on a werewolf hunt with the sole purpose of killing a werewolf, did you look at the cures page? If not, I suggest you do – upon death, a werewolf will revert to his or her original form (Frost 7). Wounds that are inflicted upon a werewolf in wolf-form also appear on the werewolf's human form (6-7). Therefore, if you aren’t arrested for murder, there is a high possibility that you will be tried for assault and battery.

If you’re still willing to take the risks, there are a few things you should do before you go after the werewolf.

1. First, make sure you’re hunting a werewolf. If you hear howling at night, the next day check out that area for larger-than-normal or odd paw/foot prints. Also be sure to check into town, or go to the place where you can get the most information. Heck, even use Google, but nothing travels faster than gossip. If you’re sure that you have a werewolf in the area, I recommend visiting your town center or where the most gossip can be heard. That way, while gathering information, you can identify the werewolf.


2. According to Brian Frost, a werewolf "can be killed or destroyed by conventional methods" (14). The belief that silver is the bane of werewolves was first used in the 1764-1767 story The Beast of Gévaudan, in which a magician blesses a silver bullet. The metal silver is chosen because according to its lore, "silver is the only metal to share its magical property as a whole, in short bless one you bless them all" ("Werewolf"). This bullet merely critically injures the werewolf in the story – it is the work of modern writers who exaggerated the power of silver as a one-hit-kills-it weapon ("Werewolf"). The movie The Wolfman directed by George Waggner in 1941, does not treat silver as a one-metal cure-all. Instead, the two werewolves in the movie are beaten to death with a silver cane (Lawrence). 
   Step back a moment: how can one type of a shiny metal be enough to kill a being that turns into a larger-than and stronger-than normal wolf-like creature in the light of a full moon or by another method? It can be understandable if the silver weapon was poisoned before use, but who has time to poison when a fast, inhuman being wanders the night? It would be best, in this case, to mimic the Talbots in The Wolfman (1941) and use a weapon that you can use again and again. Also, this weapon should be able to kill a non-werewolf, just to make sure that does work. You honestly don’t think a rubber chicken spray-painted silver would work, did you? Unless you cover it in barbeque sauce and get it into the werewolf’s mouth with the purpose of having it get stuck in its throat. Then it might work, but don’t trust me on that.


3. Let’s see, you’ve identified the werewolf, and you’ve armed yourself... Now the danger begins. If the werewolf didn’t know about you, very soon it will. If you know where the werewolf lives, that’s great. I advise against breaking and entering to off a sleeping werewolf. Not only could you be charged with manslaughter or assault, but with breaking and entering as well. According to, if a werewolf is wounded and resumes his or her human shape, the "little finger is supposedly either wounded or missing" (Silva). In other words, even if you break in and wound the werewolf in a place that can be easily hidden or appear accidental, the werewolf's missing finger will tell the authorities what they need to know. 
   Thus, instead of invading the werewolf’s lair, follow them out and into the middle of the country and off them there. If it sounds too risky (how many werewolves are there?), bring a friend along!


• So I’m about to go up against a werewolf. Got any tips?
• Some fiction writers have written that werewolves loose all sense of rational thought and rely on instincts. Because of this, you can most likely set up a trap for the lone wolf or pack – just make sure to hide your scent somehow!
• According to Elliott O’Donnell, there are two animals that "give in directly [when] they are brought to bay": the puma and the wolf (O’Donnell 91). According to O’Donnell, if a wolf is cornered and it knows there is no way out, it will surrender. Werewolves are part wolf and part human – if the werewolf was a stubborn person before becoming cursed, you can be assured that it will NOT go down easily. If you run it into a corner, be prepared for a last minute stand, or a frenzied attack.
• If you are facing a four-legged wolf, the only thing you have to worry about are its fangs. If it’s a biped or a werewolf that walks on two legs, then most likely you’ll have to watch out for its jaws and claws.
• Speed is your friend, even though the werewolf will most likely be faster.
• Practice makes perfect. Be sure you know how to use your weapon of choice!


4. Once you’ve defeated the werewolf, cut off its head and burn it. According to Brian Frost, in parts of Eastern Europe a werewolf that is killed and buried returns three days later as a vampire (14). Look at it this way – if the werewolf’s a pile of ash, there’s no way that it can be identified as an ex-werewolf, right? Just don't toss the ashes into a source of running water -- you might give the waters lycanthropic properties which can turn anything that drinks from it into a werewolf, potentially multiplying your problem.