Wolves in Hamburg: Danger of death for grazing animals is increasing - citizens on alert!

Wolves in Hamburg: Danger of death for grazing animals is increasing - citizens on alert!

In the south of Hamburg, more precisely in the Marmstorf district, concerns about wolf attacks have recently become more important. Here on September 15, 2025, two sheep were discovered in a pasture that apparently fell victim to a wolf attack NDR reported. Local farmer Marc Janz found a dead sheep and a seriously injured animal that later had to be euthanized. What is worrying is that the incident took place near Janz's home, however he was apparently not alert on the night of the attack and did not hear anything.

The cracks are not only an individual problem for the affected animal owners, but also raise larger questions. Ralf Niedmers, the hunting policy spokesman for the CDU parliamentary group, speaks out and emphasizes the urgent need to take the protection of grazing animals seriously. The CDU is calling for the wolf to be included in Hamburg's state hunting law and, among other things, is calling for a year-round closed season. Loud World The Elbe CDU is also putting pressure on an unbureaucratic compensation scheme that is intended to support animal owners in the event of wolf attacks.

Growing wolf population in Hamburg

The incident in Marmstorf is not the first of its kind: The first proven wolf attack in Hamburg dates back to 2018. To date, a total of two wolf attacks have been recorded in the city, most recently in April 2023 in Neuenfelde. With the first wolf spotted in Hamburg in 2013, the responsibilities have also changed. The city now employs wolf carers who contribute to education and management of wolf populations.

In general, the situation in Germany shows an increase in the wolf population. According to current statistics, there are already over 209 wolf packs with more than 1,600 animals in Germany DBBW reports. In recent years, livestock cracks have increased, making grazing livestock increasingly problematic. The European framework, which the EU has agreed to lower the protection status of the wolf, also offers cause for concern. The federal government is considering incorporating these changes into national law and plans to downgrade the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected” in order to be able to respond more flexibly to the increasing attacks.

The dangers of the wolf

The problems associated with wolf attacks should not be underestimated. Wolves sometimes exhibit aggressive hunting behavior in which they kill more livestock than they can actually eat, which is known as the “prey strike reflex.” A fenced-in grazing animal often has no opportunity to escape. Janz reports about a wolf possibly acting nearby, which he filmed on his wildlife camera in February. The fear of further incidents is therefore entirely justified.

In this context, it remains to be seen how the genetic sample, which is expected to deliver results shortly afterwards, turns out. If it is confirmed that a wolf is responsible, this could have far-reaching consequences for wolf policy in Hamburg and beyond.