The wolf in Lower Saxony: a dispute between farmers and politics!

The wolf in Lower Saxony: a dispute between farmers and politics!

Vechta, Deutschland - The wolf has been a explosive topic since it immigration in northwestern Germany that heats the minds. Who would have thought that the return of an animal that had been considered extinct for over a hundred years would trigger so many controversy? At the end of 2014, the wolf appeared in the region, which was documented at a organic farm in Großenkneten. Since then it has continued turbulent: Numerous sightings and cracks of use occurred in the districts of Oldenburg, Vechta and Cloppenburg. Between December 2014 and February 2015 alone, almost 60 farm animals were torn in the Vechta district, including reports on a "Goldenstedter Problem-Wolf" in autumn 2015.

The situation remained tense in the following years. In 2017, the first wolf attacks in Friesland and Wesermarsch were reported, and a wolf appeared in the Ammerland, while another was shot illegally in October 2017. Even a stuffed wolf was made aware of in 2018 for supervisors. But the wolves were not idle; From 2019 to 2025, an increase in the cracks was documented in several counties, which put the farmers under great pressure. The animal rights activists and agriculture were found in an endless conflict, which was also fueled by the increasing number of visitors at the wolf directions.

The pressure on politics is growing

Against the background of the ever increasing wolf crack numbers and the continuing protests of the farmers, associations such as the German Farmers' Association (DBV) and the German Hunting Association (DJV) are now calling for a U -turn in the federal government's wolf policy. On the occasion of the "Day of the Wolf" on April 30, 2025, they appealed to the government to implement effective wolf management and use the existing scope to regulate the wolf stock. Bernhard Krüsken from the DBV criticizes the high wolf stock density in Germany, which amounts to around 3,000 animals, and reports on 6,000 torn farms annually.

Krusken sees the wolf's state of preservation and requires an official statement that should result in a change in protection status in the FFH guideline. Helmut Dammann-Tamke from the DJV also supports this view and requires a downgrading of the wolf at the EU level and quick intervention management for livestock cracks. Another central point of the appeal is the demand for an immediate program to protect pasture keeping, which is of great approval from the affected animal owners.

lack of trust in herd protection measures

According to Dr. Kay Ruge from the German Landkreisstag (DLT) is very inadequate previous management. He sees the falling acceptance for the wolf, especially in East Germany and emphasizes that the public has to be informed more about the problems of agriculture with the wolves. Jens Schreinecke, a animal owner from Brandenburg, also described that despite implemented herd protection measures, there are numerous problems and demanded more active herd protection.

The fronts between farmers, hunters and the municipality seem hardened, but all sides know: If nothing is done, the gap between animal and nature conservation could be lower on the one hand and the requirements of agriculture on the other. The DBV speaks of political resistance to regulation and calls for an upper limit of around 1,000 wolves per population.

At least one step in the right direction seems to be made: With the newly introduced guideline "Shana", which promotes herd protection measures, many hope for a relaxation of the situation. However, this regulation encounters mixed reactions on the part of the farmers who continue to see themselves according to a reliable concept to ensure production and pasture farming. It remains to be seen whether the responsible politicians have grown of the challenge and whether a common path that not only takes into account the wolves, but also the interests of farmers.

In the future, it becomes clear that in order to increase acceptance for the wolf among the population, only a transparent and active management can help that meet both nature and agricultural needs. It is to be hoped that there will soon be a dialogue that promotes the overdue understanding of the complementary challenges of nature conservation and agriculture, so that everyone involved can find a solution.