Wolves in Lower Saxony: Livestock losses are increasing dramatically!

Wolves in Lower Saxony: Livestock losses are increasing dramatically!

The wolf issue remains a hotly debated topic in Lower Saxony. There was a confirmed wolf attack in the Gifhorn district in the third quarter of 2025, which, despite the current figures, can only be seen as a small episode in a larger problem. During this period, two livestock deaths were recorded in Gifhorn - one by a wolf and one by another animal. In direct comparison, the balance in the Uelzen district looks different. Here, 29 farm animals were killed in 15 incidents and, remarkably, this was the first time a pony had been the victim of a wolf attack. This incident occurred on the night of September 29th in Gerdau, where the Icelandic pony was attacked.

Farmers in the Cuxhaven district also had to suffer. A total of 22 tearing events were recorded there, in which the wolf was proven to be the cause in 21 cases. Looking across the entire region, the statistics show that by the end of September 2025, 59 wolf packs, three wolf pairs and two resident individual wolves were detected in Lower Saxony. Compared to the previous quarter, there is an additional wolf pack, further adding to the concerns of pet owners.

Farm animal cracks at a glance

The numbers are alarming: a total of 100 attacks on farm animals were reported in Lower Saxony during the reporting period, in which 200 animals were killed, 101 were injured and five were reported missing. Sheep were the most common victims of attacks, followed by cattle and horses. The Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture (LWK) has been responsible for documenting and processing this damage to livestock since February 1, 2022. If you suspect a wolf attack, the LWK should be contacted as quickly as possible on (0511) 36651500.

A particular challenge arises from the return of wolves, which is conflict-free in many regions but represents an easy target for farm animals. The absence of large predators has meant that many protective measures against wolves have been forgotten. This results in more attacks being documented. The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment has therefore drawn up guidelines to promote wolf-repellent basic protection for farm animals. Although there is no such thing as 100% security, most protective measures have proven to be effective.

Financial support in the form of equity payments is available for farmers affected by wolf attacks. These are granted if the wolf can be proven to be the cause and the farm animals are also protected by wolf-repellent basic protection. Livestock such as sheep, goats and wild animals are particularly affected.

In summary, it remains to be said: The challenges posed by the wolf pack are diverse and require both quick action in suspected cases and effective protective measures. Communication between farmers and the relevant authorities urgently needs to be strengthened in order to protect both animals and concerned animal owners. If you would like to find out more about the current situation in detail, you can read about it at AZ Online or at Wolfsmonitoring. Let's work together to ensure that the return of the wolves does not lead to an ever-growing conflict!