Overview
- The government draft would place wolves under hunting law, enabling Länder to authorize hunting from July 1 to October 31 and to designate areas where herds are hard to protect, such as alpine pastures and dikes.
- Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer argues simpler removals are needed to address livestock losses and stress on herders, while farmers' leader Joachim Rukwied calls the change urgently necessary.
- The German Hunting Association urges removing the species’ special status and proposes culling up to 40% of juveniles from June to October, with year‑round removal of identified problem animals.
- Conservation and animal‑welfare groups including NABU, WWF, BUND and the German Animal Welfare Federation say broad hunting will not reduce attacks, could destabilize packs, and risks harming dependent pups in summer.
- DBBW data cited in the draft report about 1,268 wolf‑related incidents with roughly 5,000 animals affected in 2023 and around 1,100 incidents with about 4,300 in 2024; the bill still needs further Bundestag readings and Bundesrat approval.