How might wolves have helped begin their own domestication?

Evidence suggests that wolves may have facilitated their own domestication by trailing nomadic human groups in northern Eurasia. By following these hunters, wolves were able to scavenge and consume the remains of game animals that were left behind.1

This process, which unfolded over thousands of years, likely began as wolves became accustomed to living in close proximity to humans when food was available. Over time, this behavioral adaptation—characterized by a reduction in fear and an increased tolerance for human presence—likely laid the foundation for the transition from wild wolves to domesticated dogs. While humans later imposed artificial selection for tameness to further refine these traits, the initial shift was driven by the wolves' own opportunistic behavior in human-altered environments.123