Wolf spotted in Hanover: Unusual visit causes excitement!

Wolf spotted in Hanover: Unusual visit causes excitement!

On Monday evening, a wolf caused a stir in Hanover when it was captured on video. The sighting was officially confirmed on Wednesday by the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment. A spokesman said that they were relatively certain that it was really a wolf. A corresponding video is currently being evaluated that shows the animal; it is quite possible that it is a young animal that is looking for its own territory. Heinz Pyka, a city hunter in Hanover, suspects that the tempting smell of game from the nearby zoo may have attracted the wolf. Three years ago, a young wolf stayed in the city for a long time, which shows that such encounters are unusual, but not unique.

The ministry emphasizes that the wolf poses no danger to humans and there is no cause for alarm. There are currently no signs of a wolf pack in Hanover. The return of the wolf has been an important issue for the Lower Saxony region since 2007. However, the reintroduction of animals also creates challenges, especially with regard to farm animals: From July to September 2025, 78 attacks on farm animals were confirmed, particularly in the Cuxhaven district.

A look at wildlife expertise

The federal documentation and advice center on wolves (DBBW) provides current information on wolf occurrences in Germany. It supports authorities at various levels and summarizes important data. Last month, wolf carcasses with injuries were discovered in Wiednitz and Leippe, possibly indicating illegal shooting. This is currently being investigated by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. The situation is completely different with an older female wolf whose death in Elsterheide was confirmed to be of natural origin.

There is positive news in the Herzogtum-Lauenburg region: a new wolf territory “Langenlehstener Heide” has been identified here, which was proven by trail camera evidence of two wolves. The first appearance of the wolf pair was verified in December 2024, which indicates an encouraging spread of the species.

International incidents and their consequences

However, there are also worrying reports from the Netherlands. There, a suspected wolf injured a six-year-old child, although adult intervention prevented anything worse from happening. The animal in question, known as GW3237m, had been noticed for its unusual behavior in recent times and had already attracted the attention of the authorities on several occasions. In such cases, it is important that clear recommendations for dealing with conspicuous wolves are followed in order to avoid dangerous situations.

The dynamics of the wolf return in Lower Saxony and beyond remain exciting and challenging. We will continue to monitor developments closely.