Never Cry Wolf is situated in the late 1940s within Keewatin, the easternmost district of Canada's expansive Northwest Territories. Mowat starts his mission to study wolves by flying to the town of Churchill, located on the western shore of Hudson Bay. From Churchill, he takes another flight approximately three hundred miles northwest to a location he names Wolf House Bay, where his research begins.

Early in his assignment, Mowat sets up a base camp and discovers a wolf family whose den is nestled in an esker, a glacial ridge shaped by water. He relocates his gear close to the den to start observing the wolves' behavior. As summer arrives and the wolves shift to their summer den in a nearby ravine, Mowat follows them to continue his studies. Eventually, when the caribou begin their seasonal migration, Mowat traverses the tundra plains to evaluate how wolves hunt caribou and the impact of their predation on the caribou population.

Never Cry Wolf captures the enormity of Canada's northern territories while also focusing on the intimate world of a single wolf family.

To convey an important message in Never Cry Wolf, Mowat narrates his true story with simplicity and directness. Despite its straightforward approach, the meticulously crafted book highlights Mowat's keen attention to details that reveal character.

Never Cry Wolf is structured as a tale of initiation, portraying a young person's journey to maturity and the acquisition of valuable lessons. Mowat learns to survive in the wilderness and, often through humorous mistakes, discovers that much of what the government authorities have told him is untrue. He also uses humor to impart lessons on outdoor survival and wolf behavior. Myths serve as educational tools, offering a cross-cultural perspective. For example, Ootek's story about the creation of the caribou and the wolf illustrates the different perceptions of wolves in Eskimo and Western cultures. These cultural contrasts highlight the Western misunderstanding of wolves. Finally, Mowat's comparisons between wolf and human societies enhance the literary impact of the story.

Mowat promotes a deep respect for life and an environmental ethic in Never Cry Wolf. He criticizes individuals, such as the Ottawa bureaucrats, who remain complacent in their ignorance and indifferent to the consequences of their actions on wildlife. Mowat calls for a proper reverence for nature, highlighting that human interference often disrupts the natural systems and relationships that have evolved in the wild. The title Never Cry Wolf serves as a warning to society to stop blaming wolves for human issues. Mowat advocates for a shift in attitudes towards wolves, which would lead to policy changes that protect them from extinction.

Some readers and parents might be troubled by Mowat's depiction of alcohol use. In Never Cry Wolf, he frequently uses "Wolf Juice," a mix of Moose Brand Beer and pure grain alcohol meant to preserve research specimens. While Mowat's sensitive and compassionate stance on environmental issues significantly outweighs the questionable use of Wolf Juice in the book, it may still be wise for concerned individuals to discuss the dangers of alcohol abuse with younger readers.

In 1983, Walt Disney Productions released a film adaptation of Never Cry Wolf, featuring Charles Martin Smith as the character based on Mowat, named "Tyler" in the movie. Disney's version of Never Cry Wolf faithfully captures both the events and the essence of Mowat's book. To add more excitement, a few scenes were included: the bush pilot transporting Tyler to Wolf House Bay repairs his aircraft mid-flight while a terrified Tyler holds the controls, and Tyler falls through the spring ice, nearly drowning as he struggles to find the hole...