Wolves in MV: Road deaths and mysteriously disappeared packs!

Wolves in MV: Road deaths and mysteriously disappeared packs!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, wolves have enjoyed a steady increase since their return around 20 years ago. However, this trend reversal also brings with it challenges, as the local wolves have to face dangerous situations in traffic. Loud Baltic Sea newspaper So far, 66 wolves in northeastern Germany have not survived road traffic, with a young female wolf presumably dying after a car accident in the Mecklenburg Lake District at the end of October. Agriculture and Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) reiterated that road traffic represents the main danger to wolves.

However, these dangerous collisions are not the only threat to the animals. Illegal killings of wolves have to be recorded again and again. There were a total of 15 confirmed cases in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but the number of unreported cases could be much higher. These developments make the scientific evaluation of the wolf population more difficult, as many wolves or even entire packs disappear under unclear circumstances, such as NDR reported.

Regulation and challenges

The return of the wolves has both positive and negative aspects. While farmers and hunters proclaim the urgent need for regulation of the wolf population and legally secure shooting options, lawmakers see a challenge in creating a legal framework for the killing of conspicuous wolves. The wolf is already included in the hunting law of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but there are no clear guidelines at the federal level.

In 2024, 94 wolf attacks were recorded in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in which 384 grazing animals were killed. This year there have already been 44 attacks with 153 animals killed Baltic Sea newspaper reported. The majority of attacks affect sheep and goats, which is a particular problem for livestock farmers.

Wolves are heavily represented in the region. There are currently 28 packs, five pairs and one territorial lone wolf living in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Between May 2024 and April 2025, 24 packs gave birth, bringing the number of confirmed pups to 93. Experts estimate that there are a total of around 2,500 wolves in Germany, making them a topic of central interest for nature conservation policy.

Financial support for animal owners

In order to cushion the financial impact of wolf attacks, owners of grazing animals receive compensation provided that herd protection is guaranteed. Around 275,000 euros have already been paid out in this context. This is an important step to minimize the concerns of affected farmers.

Overall, the development of the wolf population in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows that the return of predators is also linked to a number of challenges. In order to find a balance between nature conservation and the needs of farmers, clarifying measures are urgently needed. Although the animals are legally protected, their protection status is being put to the test by the increasing killing of wolves and increasing conflicts with agriculture.