What Stalks Wolves Across Europe

The New York Times ^ | May 12, 2025 | Adam Weymouth

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 brought many changes, but one of the more unexpected was that it enabled the wolves of Eastern Europe to begin expanding their range west, where they had been practically unknown for more than a century. Few large mammals, people included, had been permitted to cross from East to West before the Berlin Wall came down. From the guard towers along the border, soldiers had shot bears for fun.

Today there are more than 21,500 wolves on the continent, a species of least concern. Their revival, a beacon of hope in the biodiversity crisis, is testament to what can be achieved when conservation policies do not stop at borders. But the recent freedom under which wolves have thrived in Europe is once again in peril.

The wolf was once the most widespread terrestrial animal on the planet, but by the mid-20th century a campaign of persecution had pushed it almost to extinction. In Europe, they reached their nadir in 1965, hanging on in just a few small pockets. In North America, estimates for the number of wolves killed from 1850 to 1900 range between one million and two million. “The numbers no longer have meaning” wrote the essayist Barry Lopez.

But as the European Union expanded, it continued to favor the lives of wolves. Scientists could share knowledge freely across the continent. Environmental legislation, ratified by every member state, listed the large carnivores as species requiring special protection.

Slavc (pronounced sh-lough-ts) was a wolf pioneer. Born in 2010, in southern Slovenia, at a year old he was collared with a GPS tracker by biologists researching wolf behavior. Soon afterward he set out, alone, on a walk of more than a thousand miles through the Alps, in search of the same three things...

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: carnivore; europe; opinion; wolf; wolves

[No name given]

Interesting.

[SamuraiScot]

by the mid-20th century a campaign of persecution had pushed it almost to extinction. . .

When I was a little lad, I was fascinated and inspired by stories with wolves in them--notably including Peter and the Wolf. They seemed a powerful, intelligent, wonderful, way-cool animal. I drew pictures of them and read about them, and I was glad they could be found in the wild again in places where they had been extinct.

Today, as a grandfather of many children, while I'm glad we did not exterminate wolves, I do appreciate that farmers with livestock and fathers of small children have a point when they say that while wolves are magnificent in many ways, they have no desire to take them on as neighbors.

[mosaicwolf]

I ran into a large Gray wolf running across a road while living in Montana. Very impressive animals. For some reason I have an attachment to the carnivors.

[OldGoatCPO]

Came within 50 yards of a wolf walking down a sandy road to where I was hunting. Had its head down thought it was a coyote I was debating shooting it, but when I put the scope on it I realized it was a wolf. It got to within 10-15 yards and I quietly said you need to get out of here. Its head snapped up, it looked at me turned and calmly walked away. Magnificent animal, where there is one there is a pack nearby.

[from occupied ga]

Magnificent animal

. I’m sure ranchers share opinion < sarcasm>

[null and void]

My son thinks the main reason space aliens haven’t contacted us is ‘any species that keeps carnivores as pets is too insane to be worth contacting!’

[Carry_Okie]

Today there are more than 21,500 wolves on the continent, a species of least concern.

Tell that to French shepherds.

[Carry_Okie]

Magnificent animal, where there is one there is a pack nearby.

According to Dr. Valerius Geist, one hunter v. a committed wolf pack presents very poor odds of survival, even with full auto. Our best option for peaceful coexistence is with hunting sufficient to make them avoid people. Else, attacks on people are a matter of time and habituation.

Val was a dear friend. I miss him.

[IrishPennant]

Somehow, and I cannot figure out how, that makes sense.

[Veto!]

I don’t exactly want wolves as neighbors, but they’re definitely better looking and more intelligent than some of mine.

Plus, I’ve always liked animals better than people. My family excepted. Every single person, going back decades, has had a dog or a cat, sometimes more than one. My daughter has four terrific dogs. When I lived in a house on a fenced-in acre, I had a dog and two cats, all got along famously. Down to one cat now, and feed a stray in the neighborhood every night.

NOT going to feed an illegal.

[OldGoatCPO]

We do not have any ranchers. Our farmers who lose chickens, piglets, cats, and dogs to coyotes, not wolves. So I do not give a flying F what ranchers think, especially after watching how that Wyoming Rancher tortured a young wolf before killing it. Kill them within the law, fine, but I don't condone animal cruelty.

Wolves are magnificent creatures, but they need to be able to roam. They do not need to be near humans. It is not good for us or them. Packs need to be managed just like deer herds in populated areas. There is enough wild game around here that we do not often see wolves. That's why it was so cool to see one.

[lightman]

A pack nearby?

Hope you were carrying a rapid pump shotgun!

[Colorado Doug]

I’ll bet the kids at the school bus stop would really get a kick out of seeing a pack.

[Cronos]

we have wolves in the area around the Carpathian mountains where I live - I’ve actually seen a couple while walking around.

A lot of people don’t like them as they are threatening to sheep etc. - and yes, that they are, however if we just keep more caution, there is a way to let them thrive alongside us

[Cronos]

The farmers I’ve met who have lost lifestock to them DO share the opinion that wolves are magnificent animals. Yet at the same time, they don’t want them close to their livestock.

One can have both opinions at the same time

[Cronos]

“Kill them within the law, fine, but I don’t condone animal cruelty.
Wolves are magnificent creatures, but they need to be able to roam. They do not need to be near humans. It is not good for us or them. Packs need to be managed just like deer herds in populated areas. There is enough wild game around here that we do not often see wolves. That’s why it was so cool to see one.”

I agree

[marktwain]

Valerius Geist was a wonderful scientist who could change his opinion when confronted with evidence.

It would be nice if there were more like him.

[Carry_Okie]

It would be nice if there were more like him.

He was quintessentially fearless and curious, one of the few scientists who'd seek my opinions (I was reviewing his last book discussing the observations of Cabeza de Vaca, now never to be published). It was a huge honor for him to mention our project specifically in his keynote speeches.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

My wife’s nephew used to raise beautiful big dogs. Everyone in his town thought they were beautiful and friendly.
Then they found the dogs where HALF WOLF!
The city went into a panic till he got rid of them.