Werewolf Detection and Prevention
Detection:
Most of the early traditions offered some fairly outlandish ways of detecting a werewolf. While most of these methods are probably based on some form of truth most of these methods seem to be based on unfounded superstitions and ancient beliefs. If any of these methods are real then bet on the lycanthropes being aware of them and doing their best to hide these giveaway features.
When werewolves are not in lycanthrope form they walk around like any other male or female. Being able to identify a werewolf would be an extremely valuable advantage. In the dark ages of human history it was considered vital for survive.
1. Pale Skin: Unlike a vampire this pale skin is not caused from being dead or having a lack of warm blood flow. This would be because the werewolf is a creature of the night. A werewolf would stalk at night and sleep during most of the daytime. Werewolves can come out in the daylight so pale skin may not be an accurate way to detect a werewolf.
2. Excessive Thirst: This ancient interpretation is probably based on the belief that dogs panted because they were always thirsty, therefore, a werewolf being a canine creature, would be a thirsty animal also. It is a misunderstanding that dogs are always thirsty. Canines drink a normal amount of water for their body weight unless there is something physically wrong with the animal. The problem is that dogs do not pant because they are thirsty. Dogs pant as a way of cooling their bodies. Dogs only have sweat glands in their feet so they cannot lose heat as rapidly as humans. Instead, the dogs sweat by panting, which removes body heat by evaporation from the surface of the tongue. Dogs also pant when they are nervous or excited. But hey, if you see a person who is panting constantly maybe that they are a lycanthrope.
3. Howling until Dawn: Another canine attribute that is probably being misinterpreted. It was believed in ancient legends that people who howled at the moon were werewolves. There were many ancient wolf cults that howled at the moon and maybe this helped this legend evolve. Canines actually howl at the moon for the purpose of gathering more members of the pack together to face an impending danger together. When a pack of wolfs howl together it is believed that it is a bonding experience. If a werewolf is howling then know that it is attempting to call other werewolves to its side, which is bad news.
4. Obsession with Walking in Cemeteries: Many people find a walk through a cemetery to be a peaceful experience, but in ancient traditions people who wandered around in cemeteries were considered to be werewolves. Most legends considered werewolves to be in league with the devil and the cemeteries were places were the dead could be consulted and evil spirits could be summoned. Cultures believed that individuals hanging out in graveyards were up to no good and probably in league with the devil.
5. Excessive Hair: Excessive hair on the palms of the hands, excessive hair on the arms, legs, chest and back are signs of a possible werewolf. Eyebrows that have grown together (unibrow) and meet in the center of the forehead is also a sign of the werewolf. Of course, all of these signs would be easy to hide with just a little bit of personal grooming.
6. Unpleasant odors: It is believed that werewolves have extra glands that somehow aid in their changeling abilities. These extra glands cause the werewolf to emit an unpleasant odor that has been described as stale hay or horse manure.
7. Skin that Gradually Changes Color: The processing of changing into a werewolf takes a toll on the human body. It was believed that the skin of those who turned into a werewolf would begin to gradually turn dark. Dark turning skin was also a sign of an eminent transformation.
8. The Mark of the Werewolf: It was an ancient belief that werewolves were cursed. It was thought by werewolf hunters that the sign of the pentagram, a five pointed star and magical symbol, would be found somewhere on the werewolf. The pentagram was usually found on the chest or hand (palm) of the werewolf. It was also believed that the mark would appear on anyone who survived a werewolf attack at the first full moon officially marking them as cursed.
Prevention:
Almost nothing can be done to turn away a werewolf. There are said to be ancient spells, totem, and potions that ward off evil, but they do not necessarily work against werewolves. To stop a werewolf the best thing to do is look at what can kill a werewolf like pure silver. Having a lot of silver weapons might give a werewolf pause before attacking. Fire might also be another method of stopping the advancement of a werewolf. The fire might not kill the werewolf but even a werewolf does not want to go through the pain of being engulfed in flames. (also see Ways to Destroy a Werewolf).
What does not work against a werewolf?
Mirrors, crucifixes, sunlight, (in some legends) holy water - vampires and werewolves are not the same beings. Weapons that legends claim will destroy a vampire will not automatically work against a werewolf. Many ancient legends claim that vampires are vulnerable to religion (Christian religion in particular); however, there are legends of werewolves being involved in these same religions - some werewolves even being members of the clergy.