Wolf population in Denmark reaches to above 49 adult wolves. Highest level in recent times.
A new population assessment from the Natural History Museum Aarhus and Aarhus University puts Denmark’s adult wolf population at 49 animals, with at least 61 wolf pups born in the Danish wild this year. All of the wolves live in Jutland.
According to the researchers, some of them will disperse out of the country towards Germany, others will be killed by traffic, and others will disappear through illegal hunting. The spring 2027 population is estimated at fewer than 80 wolves in total.
Wolves have become a permanent part of Danish nature with breeding pairs in both Central, Western and Northern Jutland. The development so far shows a population on the rise, supported by immigration from Germany.
The first wolf pups in Denmark in 200 years were born in 2017.
Many farmers, especially sheep farmers, are strongly against wolves and several Danish right-wing politicians want it to be easier to shoot wolves in Denmark. Wolves kill several livestock animals annually — overwhelmingly sheep. The state compensates livestock owners for documented wolf attacks. Loose dogs also attack livestock from time to time, but those attacks are not documented.
Afraid of wolves
Lack of knowledge and awareness of wolves among the population means that many Danes are still afraid of wolves – and fear creates resistance. At the same time, one-sided news articles with sensationalist headlines are often published in certain Danish newspapers, which strengthens the resistance against wolves.
A new poll shows that one third feel unsafe about the return of wolves to Denmark. Two thirds believe that wolf protection should be less restricted or completely ended.
Are wolves dangerous to humans?
Wolf attacks on humans in modern Europe are extremely rare. The few documented attacks in Europe over the past 200 years have primarily been carried out by rabies infected wolves. There have been no recorded attacks on humans in Denmark since the wolf’s return to the wild in 2012.
According to a report titled “Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002-2020” by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, the risks associated with a wolf attacking a human are “above zero, but far too low to calculate”.
More on the subject?
The key to living with wolves in Europe? Read more at rewildingeurope.com.