Wolves Return to Austria from Eastern Europe

Wolves Return to Austria from Eastern Europe

A wolf was spotted near a vineyard in Kammern (Krems district) at the beginning of April. Image: Daniel Hluchy

 

Wolves have been gradually returning to Austria since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, which once divided the country from the Eastern Bloc, according to ORF.

The last wolf in Austria was reportedly killed in 1882, and for over 130 years, the species was absent until the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe reopened ancient migration routes, allowing wolves to roam westward again. An estimated 20,000 wolves currently live in the Eastern European countries bordering Austria.

Young wolves, in particular, are eager to claim new territories. “A young wolf can cover 100 kilometres in a night if the mood takes it,” explained behavioural biologist Kurt Kotrschal, co-founder of the Wolf Science Centre in Ernstbrunn.

The sparsely populated, forested Waldviertel region in Lower Austria has proven to be ideal territory. Of the six packs presently recorded in Austria, four are located in the Zwettl and Gmünd districts, with one pack roaming the Bohemian Forest near the Czech border and another found in Carinthia. However, wolf populations remain unstable, as individuals often move on or disappear.

With the growth of the wolf population, livestock attacks have increased as well. In 2022, 15 incidents were reported, but this year has already seen 44 cases in Lower Austria alone. In response, local authorities have tightened hunting regulations to enable a more proactive approach to wolf management, citing concerns over public safety.

Wolf hunting is still banned in Austria, however, following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in July.

Although no wolf attacks on people have been documented in Austria, many still experience what Kotrschal describes as a “primal fear” of wolves.

Recent sightings near villages, roads, and railways have raised further concerns, though Kotrschal stresses that these encounters are typically harmless unless wolves are deliberately fed by humans. In such cases, he advises people to make themselves appear larger, shout, and, if necessary, throw stones to scare the animal away.

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