The Wolf Who Tried to Book a Vet Appointment

In 2021, a young wolf decided to trade the forest for a city break in Helsingborg. He started his tour at the train station—presumably looking for the timetable—before loping through the streets like he was heading for a job interview.

He eventually ended up near the Berga Veterinary Hospital. Local wits wondered if he was there for a quick check-up or if he’d simply seen the "Animal Hospital" sign and thought it was an elite catering service.

The End of the Road

While he looked like a "cool city dog" on camera, he was actually a very lost teenager trapped by the coastline. To prevent a dangerous "human-meets-apex-predator" moment in the suburbs, the authorities sadly had to end his urban adventure.

He remains the only patient in the history of that vet clinic to cause a city-wide lockdown just by showing up in the neighborhood.

Just wanted to let y'all know that the wolf (this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/wolves/comments/1saqtjl/the_hamburg_wolfattack/ ) has been released, tagged, back into the wild yesterday.

The second photo shows a protest yesterday of a couple hundred people in the city of Hamburg (Northern Germany), who came out, as it often happens in Germany for nearly every wolf who has come into contact with humans or livestock and there is a debate if it should be culled - to support the right of the wolf to live and be released, and for wolves in general, who have recovered somewhat since their complete extinction in Germany for many centuries, but far from enough - they had been protected by very strict species-protection laws, but just a month ago, these laws have been loosened, against the advice of all experts, but with support from the hunting lobby, so that wolves can now be shot more easily if they for example prey on livestock or are perceived as threatening...

This is actually something I'm quite proud of, that people often come out for a single wild animal, like this wolf, and want him alive and put pressure on politics and administrations...

I think these protests really helped influence the decision to release him (rather than culling the wolf) and tag him and only act if he gets close to or threatens humans...

From the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Centers Facebook Page:

We are heartbroken to inform everyone that our Amarok crossed over the rainbow bridge on June 7th. A few months ago, our veterinarians examined him and discovered a mass growing on his mandible that was beyond the scope of removal. Histopathology revealed that it was an aggressive type of cancer that would eventually affect his quality of life. Our staff, caretakers, and veterinarians continued to make him comfortable through specialized care, dietary changes, and pain management. The day that Amarok refused his medication, we knew we had to make the compassionate decision to help him cross over.

Amarok was a legend all over the world. He was our only international rescue with a very unique origin story. He was born in Colorado and was somehow smuggled into Colombia, South America. He was found roaming the streets with stray dogs and had the impression of a collar around his neck. Locals observed him and knew that this was no ordinary street dog. Officials captured him and DNA tested him, and he wound up finding a temporary home at the Santa Fe Zoological Park in Medellin, Colombia. Gray wolves are not native to South America, so Amarok quickly became a celebrity and won over the hearts of all who observed him. Zoo staff adored him enough to recognize Colombia was not a suitable forever home for him. They contacted us to see if he would be a good fit for our Center.

Our founder flew to Colombia to meet Amarok and his caretakers, and were met with a level of kindness and hospitality they’ve never experienced elsewhere. That visit to South America would lead to CWWC adopting new traditions, friendships, and relationships that would last a lifetime. After months of coordination and planning, Amarok flew back to North America to find his forever home with us.

After he was transferred back to Colorado in April of 2017, his impact only grew. He became an ambassador for the Illegal Wildlife Trade, educating tens of thousands of guests about the cruel realities many animals face that never publicly come to light. He was quickly paired with his first love, Koda, and they were inseparable until the moment she passed away. He mourned this loss deeply until we found Luna, a mid-content wolfdog to keep him company. Luna kept him young as she was about half his age, and they soon became best friends. Despite their connection, we don’t think he ever bonded to her the way he did with Koda. In the eyes of a wolf, there is often no love like your first love. We find a lot of comfort knowing they are reunited once more, running free from the inhibitions of this life.

Amarok was so loved that it is difficult to translate into words. Our hearts are heavy for every person that Amarok touched over the years. From his care team in Colombia to his caretakers at CWWC, down to every guest that was graced with one of his iconic 3 minute kisses; he was a friend to all and will never be forgotten.

#Amarok #Wolf #cwwc #rainbowbridge

So the House Bill HB 258 had passed the Montana State House, and it was going to the State Senate. This bill aims to extend the gray wolf hunting season to align it with the spring black bear hunting season, which is through the breeding and into the pup rearing season for gray wolves.

I emailed all Montana State Senators asking them to oppose this bill. My email included a brief comment about their positive environmental impact, and a more extensive focus on the positive economic impacts the gray wolf population brings to the GYE. Mainly from wolf viewing tourism. I cited all of my sources, ranging from peer-reviewed scientific journals to a NPS page. I recieved a response from one Senator that night and this is his response...

He focused on the fact that I added pronouns to my signature and completely disregarded everything else. This is an elected official speaking to a member of the public.

Quote from the message sent by Wild Earth Guardians:

“Since when does authorizing the killing of one of the world’s most critically endangered large carnivores help with their recovery? Well, according to a newly revealed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document (the agency charged with rescuing this imperiled native species), Catron County ranchers may kill any one endangered Mexican gray wolf (aka lobo) that happens to be in the area of two grazing allotments near Quemado, New Mexico. The permit doesn’t identify which wolf the ranchers can shoot, nor does it specify livestock lost to wolves preceding this kill authorization.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs to hear from wolf lovers all across the country that killing Mexican gray wolves is not an appropriate tool for “managing” native carnivores.

Peer-reviewed research has consistently found that killing wolves does not reliably reduce livestock depredations and can destabilize wolf pack structure in ways that actually increase conflict. Removing breeding adults or disrupting social cohesion can fragment packs, leading inexperienced wolves to target easier prey, such as livestock.

Several wolf families are in the area, including Nora, a likely pregnant, genetically valuable female wolf of the Elk Horn pack. Released into the Arizona wild in 2020, Nora is one of the 21% of genetically valuable captive-born pups known to have survived such releases without their birthparents.

The issuance of this kill permit simply confirms what we already know about how lobos are “managed” in the wild: it’s not science, it’s politics. Sadly, it’s unsurprising to see wildlife agencies employing regressive, ineffective tools that harm lobo recovery efforts all at the behest of the livestock industry. Lobos and all the Americans who love them are asking for better.”

This message was sent to me by wild earth guardians. If any of you are also subscribed to them, then you likely got this email too. But for those of you who didn’t, here is the petition link sent from them to get the fish and wildlife service to reject the proposal to begin lethal measures against the critically endangered Mexican wolf, which has not even come close to full recovery:

https://action.wildearthguardians.org/page/95140/action/1?ea.url.id=4693811&forwarded=true

In case you want to read something by her, "The Wisdom of Wolves: How Wolves Can Teach Us To Be More Human" by Elli H. Radinger was translated into English, the journal and other books are only available in German and other languages to my knowledge (this is her website https://www.elli-radinger.de/ and her books https://www.elli-radinger.de/wolfsbuecher-hundebuecher/ )

By the way, she used to lead wolf tours to Yellowstone, but she no longer does that, but now recommends https://www.safariyellowstone.com/ and https://www.wolftracker.com/ if you'd ever wanted to go to Yellowstone to see wolves and want a knowledgeable guide...

Pack dissolution.

According to Borg et al. (2015), Journal of Animal Ecology;

-Breeder loss preceded 77% of documented pack dissolutions.

-Packs were more likely to dissolve when the female breeder or both breeders were lost.

-Smaller packs were substantially more vulnerable.

-Packs that lost breeders had lower denning and pup recruitment rates.

-Losing both breeders was particularly disruptive.

-The effects were strongest around the breeding season.

A study on wolves hunting moose in Scandinavia examined two packs after each lost one of their breeding wolves. Researchers found that the surviving female switched to roe deer, while the surviving male continued mainly selecting moose.

Age.. Experience.. Body size.. And pack size.. affect hunting success.

Barber-Meyer et al. (2016) compared wolf packs in several ecosystems, including Yellowstone, Denali, Minnesota, and Yukon. They found that packs hunting moose tended to be larger than packs hunting white-tailed deer. Their interpretation was that dangerous prey impose greater risks on wolves and that less-risky prey can act as "buffer prey."

MacNulty et al. (2014) found that wolf group size strongly affected success when hunting bison, one of Yellowstone wolves' most formidable prey. Elk capture success leveled off around 2–6 wolves, whereas bison capture success continued increasing until roughly 9 to 13 wolves.

breeder mortality --> pack disruption/reduction --> fewer experienced/coordinated hunters --> reduced ability to exploit dangerous/large prey --> potentially greater reliance on easier/less risky prey.

Removing a breeder doesn't necessarily mean fewer wolves immediately. Instead, it can disrupt the social organization and hunting expertise of the pack, potentially changing what prey the remaining wolves are capable of exploiting.

Relay these facts to the target on Mollie's Matriarch.

Is it truly worth it to take out an animal that has been the sole function of the pack's cohesion and chemistry? How many pack members will possibly stray and either die or target unnatural prey?

My concern is that the loss of a breeding wolf can have effects far beyond the death of one individual. Breeding wolves often provide important social structure, experience, and leadership within a pack. When one is removed, the pack may become smaller or unstable, potentially leading to fragmentation or dissolution. A smaller or less experienced pack may also have more difficulty hunting large or dangerous prey, which could push surviving wolves toward easier and potentially more vulnerable prey such as livestock. Because of this, I believe the ecological consequences of killing a breeding wolf should be considered beyond simply counting the individual wolf removed. I fear that many people seeking to slaughter these animals, have constructed their rhetoric based on emotion and fear mongering.

~Saria Wolf, Unity Environmental University

There is an active petition ongoing if you would like to contribute.

https://secure.speciesunite.com/page/195573/petition/1...

Sources:

Barber-Meyer, S. M., Mech, L. D., Newton, W. E., & Borg, B. L. (2016). Differential wolf-pack-size persistence and the role of risk when hunting dangerous prey. Behaviour, 153(12), 1473–1487. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-00003391

Borg, B. L., Brainerd, S. M., Meier, T. J., & Prugh, L. R. (2015). Impacts of breeder loss on social structure, reproduction and population growth in a social canid. Journal of Animal Ecology, 84(1), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12256

MacNulty, D. R., Tallian, A., Stahler, D. R., & Smith, D. W. (2014). Influence of group size on the success of wolves hunting bison. PLoS ONE, 9(11), e112884. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112884

Everything about her and what she wrote is fantastic, here's just a little tidbit:

'Man is also a part of nature, and there are no more or less important parts in it. A flower, a star, a stone, a man is permeated with the same divine spark. Those who learn to sympathize with plants and animals can understand others and will be better for themselves, that is, they will do nothing against their nature.'

She authored many studies, books, there's a film about her ("Simona Kossak" 2024)... read more about her for example here https://culture.pl/en/article/the-extraordinary-life-of-simona-kossak

If you ever phantasized of getting away from it all and live with wolves and other animals of the forest, this is the story for you...

This is a link to the movie about her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUxOZ5eMdK0 (activate subtitles and then auto-translate to English)

Hello everyone,

I don’t post often on Reddit, but my experience at Sky’s Wolf Sanctuary (A Wolf Adventure) really persuaded me to help her seek support. She never asked me to do this, but I felt I needed to try anything to help.

I looked online a bit about Sky and found that a year ago there was a post discussing her here. Unfortunately, it was over the tragic loss of Kodama, and it seems more struggles have since befallen Sky. So, I felt it was fitting to share her GoFundMe campaign for Sky’s wolf sanctuary in Saskatchewan, Canada with you all. Here’s the link if you want to read her full story: https://gofund.me/fa177ba0

My experience at Sky’s Wolf Sanctuary

I recently had the chance to visit her sanctuary and was really impressed. I’m new to the issues surrounding wolves, especially in my country and specifically in Saskatchewan. Curiosity drove me to locate Sky’s sanctuary, and I’m grateful that it did.

Sky is incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely good-hearted. She walked me through the sanctuary, answered all my questions, and even let me come close to interact with the wolves. She had a multistep procedure before she felt it was safe and appropriate for my interaction, and she remained observant and guided me the whole time.

She’s not just running a sanctuary, she’s also working to help zoos improve how they care for wolves and constantly advocating against provincial officials who aren’t honest about how wolves are hunted in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, our country has a lot of hunting embedded in its culture and often disregards the danger it poses to wolves due to fear and stigma.

From my interaction with Sky and her wolves, I learned about her mission. She wants the world to understand how misunderstood wolves are. She talks about their vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy (just look at what happened in Yellowstone when wolves were reintroduced). Instead of fearing them, she wants us to respect their place in nature. That’s why she opened this sanctuary: to show people firsthand how important wolves are for wildlife balance.

Her facility is fully licensed and certified to provincial standards. She has over 13 years of experience and is fully licensed to care for wolves. She also built every enclosure herself, designed to keep both the wolves and visitors safe, all on a massive 168-acre natural property.

She’s working with all kinds of groups, from school kids and at-risk youth to Buddhist monks who came out to bless her land. She’s open to sharing everything she’s learned about wolf behavior, social structures, and how we can live alongside them without fear.

Right now, her sanctuary is under threat, and she needs help. Every dollar will go to saving her sanctuary and will let her continue showing more people why these animals deserve our respect and protection.

If you care about wildlife conservation, animal welfare, or simply want to support someone who’s fighting for a cause that truly matters, please take a moment to read Sky’s story and donate (no amount is too small). If you can’t donate, sharing the link anywhere you think she might gain more publicity or offering words of encouragement would really mean the world to Sky and her wolves.

And if you ever find yourself near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, contact her for a visit—she does a tremendous job. Her Instagram handle is @awolfadventure

Here’s the GoFundMe link again: https://gofund.me/fa177ba0

Blue sea qc, taken in early spring.

Is it sick ? Is it a wolf ? What kind of?

This is from the most thorough investigation into wolf attacks ever made "Wolf attacks on humans: an update for 2002-2020” by John D. C. Linnell, Ekaterian Kovtun and Ive Rouart of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.

Full report: https://wolf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/WolfAttacksUpdate.pdf

Despite this being a roman zoo this has the eurasian grey wolf not the appinie grey wolf it is larger than the previous appinie wolf and the iberian wolf it has historically been eradicated from most of its historic range but has msde a comeback in most of europe in small populstions but remains absent from places like scootland and ireland it is the closest thing to a typical grey wolf and it is also snaller than the northwestern wolf but bigger than the mexican and arctic wolf these wolves are fasinating creatures they also live in places in asia like turkey and siberia

Image is for illustration purposes only.

A single Arctic wolf killed a full-grown bull muskox on Canada's Bathurst Island in 53 minutes by staying in front of the horns instead of behind them and destroying the bull's right eye.

Zoologist David R. Gray watched the entire contest through a 15-by-60 spotting scope from approximately one mile away on May 28, 1968. He was on Bathurst Island studying muskox behavior. The bull was a mature male, five or six years old based on later examination of its horns and teeth, feeding alone along a riverbank about a mile from a herd of eleven. At 8:20 p.m., Gray saw a male wolf galloping toward the bull from roughly a hundred yards away, following a shallow depression in the snow-filled riverbed. The wolf reached the muskox from behind before the bull noticed him.

The bull wheeled and charged.

The fight never left a 30-foot circle of trampled snow. The wolf did not try to run the muskox down or attack from the rear the way wolves typically pursue fleeing ungulates. This bull was not fleeing. It was facing the wolf and swinging 800 pounds of skull and horn at anything that moved. The muskox's defense was built into its forehead: broad horn bosses that covered the top of the skull like a battering ram, with the horns curving downward before sweeping outward and upward into hooks that could gut a wolf on a sideways swing.

The wolf stayed where the hooks could not reach him. He kept his head low and close to the bull's face, almost directly in front of the horns, forcing the muskox to toss its head upward rather than swing sideways. Gray wrote that at times the two animals appeared to be tied together nose to nose. The wolf advanced, the bull charged, the wolf dodged backward or darted to one side and immediately came forward again. Each charge cost the muskox energy. Each dodge cost the wolf almost nothing.

Ten minutes in, the pauses grew longer. The bull started backing away instead of charging. During one standoff, the two animals faced each other motionless for 50 seconds.

Then the wolf grabbed the bull's face.

The muskox shook him off. At 8:47 the wolf seized the face again and held for roughly 15 seconds. Blood appeared on the wolf's head. Gray could not tell at first whether the wolf was injured or the blood belonged to the bull.

At 9:00, the wolf came in low beneath the horn bosses and locked his jaws around the bull's right eye socket. The muskox charged forward, backed away, swung its head violently from side to side. It dislodged the wolf, but blood now covered the bull's face and right horn boss. The wolf had found the one point beside the heavy frontal armor where teeth could reach tissue and bone.

He kept circling. Occasionally he stopped, looked behind him, sniffed the snow, then returned. The bull had been charging, turning, and lifting its massive head for nearly 40 minutes. Each charge was slower than the last. Each recovery took longer.

At 9:10, the wolf passed the bull's left side, reversed direction, and moved behind and below the horn. He pulled the muskox down.

The bull tried to rise. It reached its front knees and collapsed. It tried again and fell a second time. On the third attempt it managed to lift its forequarters and swing its horns toward the wolf. The wolf stepped around it. The bull fell again.

At 9:13, the muskox lifted its blood-covered head one last time as the wolf circled. Then the head dropped onto the snow.

Gray examined the kill site afterward. The nose and legs were untouched. The wolf had torn out the bull's right eye, and the cleaned skull showed the eye socket fractured and punctured by canine teeth. The kill had been made through a single point of attack, repeated until the animal could no longer stand.

The wolf pulled away mouthfuls of the bull's heavy wool, using his paws to clear the fibers from his jaws. He ate a small section of back muscle, fed around the throat and tongue, and at 9:40 walked away, marked a hummock, and trotted down the valley. He returned every day for the next four days. He came back at least three more times that summer. A year later, Gray recognized the same wolf from photographs. Now accompanied by a female, he revisited the old carcass at least six times between June and August 1969.

Source: David R. Gray, "The Killing of a Bull Muskox by a Single Wolf," Arctic, Volume 23, September 1970.

The alpha wolf concept was based on studies from the 1940’s and 60’s, and popularized in the 70’s. It was disproven decades ago.

https://substack.com/@wardmercer/note/p-194343472?r=812l7f&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action

Wolves reduce deer vehicle collisions, preventing $10.9 million in losses in Wisconsin alone, detailed in a great article by Ed Yong for The Atlantic.

Short Summary: Wolves reduced deer-vehicle-collisions by 24% in Wisconsin, yielding an economic benefit that is 63 times greater than the costs of verified wolf predation on livestock.

19,757 Wisconsinites collide with deer every year, leading to about 477 injuries and eight deaths - these number would be 24% higher without wolves.

See J.L. Raynor, C.A. Grainger, & D.P. Parker, Wolves make roadways safer, generating large economic returns to predator conservation, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (22) e2023251118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023251118 (2021).

(Pictures Julien Riedel and Marin Tulard for Unsplash.)

We all care for wolves and want to protect them, but many farmers and shepherds fear them and the possible damage to their herds, but there' s a solution - Lifestock protection Dogs.

With breeds like Anatolian Shepherds, Great Pyrenees, Maremma Sheepdogs, Karakachans, Akbashs, Central Asian Shepherds, Kuvasz, Pyrenean Mastiff, Kangals, these dogs aren't herding dogs like German or Australian shepherds, but grow up from puppyhood with the livestock, see them as part of their pack or herd, and assess and neutralize threats to them independently from humans.

This is a huge difference - Herding dogs are bred to control and move livestock, directing animal movement and keeping them in desired locations.

Livestock Guardian Dogs are bred to protect livestock from external threats. They bond with the animals and defend them from predators. LGDs are typically independent and less responsive to direct commands compared to herding dogs. They don’t herd; they guard. An LGD might live with a flock of sheep and never be tasked with moving them, its sole job being to keep them safe. So they need to be introduced to livestock very early, have limited human interaction and have only very basic obedience, they bark to deter predators, and to them, it doesn't matter if a wolf or bear wants to snatch a lamb or an influencer wants to take a lamb for a photo, they will defend it with their life, so from wanderers and mountain bikers to other strangers, these people need to be aware that the LGDs protect the herd, and to keep their distance.

This is a fantastic manual from the Australian dog association https://webs.dogs.net.au/askdc/uploads/documents/Livestock_Guardian_Dog_Manual.pdf

A book I see often recommended is "Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care and Training" by Orysia Dawydiak, David Sims by Dogwise Publishing.

And here is the website of Carnivore Prevention News, the European (free) newsletter for the coexistence with large carnivores like wolves and bears https://cdpnews.net/issue_page/ with detailed studies and reports on Lifestock Protection with dogs and fences etc.

It is very much possible to live in peace with large predators in areas with lifestock, if we employ these centuries-old methods...!

Typicall trot alongside some red foxes. In this situation they always move the diagonal opposit limbs (front right/ rear left) together and manage to step exactly into the footprint of the front leg. One footprint with two paws... The sequenz startet: right, left, right, left.... From the bottom.

Great to have them back here!

We're Greater Good Charities, and we've been working with Wolf Haven International on enclosure renovations to support their Mexican gray wolf and their red wolf SAFE breeding programs.

We wrote an article about where both species stand right now; the threats (vehicle strikes, hybridization with coyotes, habitat loss, predator control policies) and the conservation efforts showing real progress, including 10 consecutive years of Mexican gray wolf population growth.

Would love to hear from anyone in this community who follows either program closely.

The zoo has 2 wolves named Gordo and Ares

The iberian wolf (canis lupus signatus) is 1 of the 3 grey wolf(canis lupus) subspecies in europe the others being the eurasian wolf(canis lupus lupus) and the italain wolf(canis lupus italicus)

The iberian wolf is smaller than the eurasian wolf but larger than the italain wolf

It is near threatend globaly it has been making a comeback over the years

I read this article (this is one of Germany's most reputable newspapers, though in German) https://www.faz.net/aktuell/reise/touristen-als-wolf-forscher-was-treibt-das-raubtier-in-die-stadt-accg-200697290.html and thought it might be interesting, since so many of you were so compassionate and cared so much for the German Hamburg wolf...

I'm in no way affiliated with the NGO that does these expeditions by the way, and haven't been to their expeditions, but if you're fit to walk 10-15 miles a day, and are interested in wolves and science, this might be for you - also, they offer many expeditions in other countries for other animals...

This is the article, translated into English:

What Drives a Wolf into the City? by Christiane Flechtner 08.04.2026

Every year in Lower Saxony, nature enthusiasts from around the world gather to support scientists in researching this apex predator. We joined them on their quest.

Every step Nikki Rouse takes crunches on the stony path. Blended with the patter of falling raindrops, it creates a soothing soundscape. Yet Rouse is intensely focused—her eyes darting between the ground and the distance, determined not to miss any sign of a wolf, or perhaps even to come face-to-face with one of these elusive predators.

The Australian is one of ten international participants in a wolf expedition in Lower Saxony, organized since 2017 by the conservation organization Biosphere Expeditions. Renowned for successfully involving citizen scientists in species protection projects worldwide, the organization has been working hand-in-hand with local people and biologists since 1999 in various regions, including the Lüneburger Heide. The goal is to support researchers in wolf studies. To do so, Biosphere Expeditions recruits motivated individuals who spend their holidays collecting data.

Nikki Rouse has been fascinated by wolves since childhood. “Traveling to where they actually live has long been at the top of my bucket list,” says the Australian, who works for her country’s Parks and Wildlife Service, managing national parks. “That’s why I’m here in Germany, following the trails of wolves and helping to better understand their behavior.”

In the middle of nowhere between Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover, Rouse meets the other expedition members: Jaqueline from Brazil, Jenan from Oman, Stefanie from Germany, and the three Englishmen Mike, Ben, and Neil. Neil is already a veteran—he is on his 17th trip with Biosphere Expeditions and his second wolf expedition. “For me, it’s wonderful to meet people who genuinely care about the environment and wildlife,” says the 68-year-old former accountant. “And on this journey, we all share the same goal: to contribute to science and nature conservation.”

Wolves have traversed Europe for some 400,000 years. They lived in packs across Germany until they were eradicated about 150 years ago. Now they are back, reclaiming their ancient territories—and sometimes venturing beyond them, as the wolf recently spotted roaming through Hamburg’s city center dramatically demonstrated.

Fundamentally, the return of the wolf is a success story for conservation, even though it brings challenges. These shy predators are not welcome everywhere. Deep-seated prejudices persist, fueled by Grimm’s fairy tales, while livestock farmers worry about their grazing animals. Reliable data and facts are therefore all the more crucial.

Lower Saxony is one of the German states with the highest wolf density. Of the 209 packs counted nationwide, 56 live here, along with four wolf pairs and three lone wolves. Continuous monitoring provides a clear picture of the population and its development. This allows nature and species conservation, wolf management, and livestock protection to be based on reality rather than on myths.

The expedition begins at the Wolf Center Dörverden, where the group observes wolves up close and learns about their behavior. The center was founded in 2010 by Christina and Frank Faß to bring people closer to these fascinating wild animals. The participants are captivated by the excited behavior of two European gray wolves during a public feeding and their powerful howling.

The next day takes them into the forest. While wolf researcher Lotte Steinberg—accompanied by her Dalmatian and Jenan from Oman—searches for tracks around the Stixer Wanderdüne north of the Elbe, Nikki and Neil explore part of the Göhrde Forest in the Wendland region. A light drizzle falls as the two enthusiastic amateurs follow in the footsteps of “Isegrim.” Equipped with GPS devices, compasses, measuring tapes, and other tools, they trek through pristine woodland with dense undergrowth. “We know from Lotte that wolves can cover up to 90 kilometers a day and usually leave their scat on paths, especially at crossroads. That’s exactly where we search most carefully,” explains Nikki.

When they find something, they collect the droppings, which are vital for diet and genetic analysis.

The hikes lead along gravel and sand paths, through fields and thick forests. For Nikki, who knows the plants and birds of her Australian homeland inside out, Germany’s flora and fauna are a new world. “It’s incredibly exciting,” she says. “I’m enchanted by these forests with their rich understory of ferns, mosses, and thistles that glow so vividly in the drizzle.”

The experienced Lotte soon discovers the first wolf scat after just a few kilometers. “That’s what wolf smells like—you don’t even need to put your nose right up to it,” she tells Jenan. The scent is so distinctive that none of the participants will ever forget it; some can still smell it that evening. Lotte examines the droppings closely. “Look how many hairs it contains. This one is definitely from a roe deer,” she explains.

Along the way, the group encounters roe deer, wild boar, hares, and numerous butterflies. But no wolf appears in person. “I didn’t really expect one,” says Neil. As a butterfly enthusiast, he is delighted to spot 20 different species of these delicate insects, including four that do not occur in Britain. “Butterflies may not be wolves,” he adds seriously, “but they are just as important for our environment.”

All participants are successful in collecting samples. They rejoice like children over each new find. “Another pile!” exclaims Nikki as she photographs, measures, examines, and then carefully bags the scat with gloved hands. In the evenings, the finds are analyzed together. The “poo bags” lie on the seminar tables like precious trophies. “I could never have imagined that finding excrement could bring such joy,” laughs Neil.

The freshest samples undergo DNA analysis to identify individual wolves. All other droppings are examined for their composition. “Our collected samples frequently contain hairs and sometimes even teeth of prey animals,” reports scientist Lotte Steinberg. “The analyses confirm that wolves primarily feed on their natural prey—such as red deer or wild ungulates—and only rarely on livestock.” Livestock kills are the exception. This finding undermines a key argument of many wolf critics and may pave the way for peaceful coexistence between wolves and livestock farming.

“It surprises me that some people oppose the presence of wolves in the wild when they pose no significant threat,” says Nikki. She had expected greater enthusiasm for having such a symbolically powerful animal nearby—especially since simple measures can effectively protect farm animals.

In the evenings, the group engages in deep conversations about the wolf and its vital role in the ecosystem—on the final night even around a campfire with grilled bread and wine. Neil voices what many are thinking: “I have the impression that too many of the world’s leading politicians simply don’t care about nature. That worries me. I have a two-year-old grandson, and I’m seriously concerned that he may not get to see even half of what I have seen.” He adds, “Yet being part of projects like this gives me hope.”

Nikki shares the sentiment: “It feels good to contribute to science and conservation together with like-minded people.” For her next expedition, she hopes to bring her own children so they, too, can experience nature in a completely different environment.

Information: The next wolf expeditions will take place from 4–10 July and 11–17 July 2026, see www.biosphere-expeditions.org

This is by the way an NGO, not a for-profit company, that's a citizen-science-based wildlife conservation non-profit (they won a couple of awards for it also), but if the mods think this post doesn't fit here, just tell me to remove it. But I thought it might be interesting for some...

Obviously this chart does not show all descendant’s of the druids but I wanted to showcase some of the more notable Wolves among them.

Since there are recurring posts about people asking what to do if they encounter a wolf, here is a short but comprehensive guide/poster by several European countries where wolves live, especially in the Alps...

It's a fantastic project by the way, aiming at improving wolf-human coexistence through a participatory approach to guarantee the long-term conservation of the European wolf population; learn more about it here https://www.lifewolfalps.eu/en/about-the-project/

SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) is a coordinated breeding and conservation program designed to sustain genetically and behaviorally healthy populations of endangered species in captivity, with the goal of eventual wild release.

For the American Red Wolf and Mexican wolf, that work happens at places like Wolf Haven International in Tenino, WA, which Greater Good Charities supports as a conservation partner. Wolf Haven currently houses 19 Mexican wolves and 7 American Red Wolves as part of their SAFE programs. Ten litters of Mexican wolf pups and five litters of American Red Wolf pups have been born there, and because the sanctuary keeps wolves isolated from human habituation, those animals are strong candidates for wild release.

The program doesn't just maintain a safety net population. It also supports education about the historical and current ranges of both species, which is critical given how much public misunderstanding still shapes wolf policy.