New wolf pack in the Westerwald: major alarm among sheep farmers!

New wolf pack in the Westerwald: major alarm among sheep farmers!

There is now a new wolf pack in the Westerwald, bringing the number of packs in Rhineland-Palatinate to a total of five. The reason for the boom in the region's wolf population is still unclear. An interesting theory from KLUWO states that the Greifenstein wolf couple had offspring last year and may have moved to Rhineland-Palatinate. However, genetic samples still need to be taken to confirm this assumption. According to SWR, several grazing animals have lost their lives in the Upper Westerwald in recent weeks. At the end of last year, 18 sheep were killed near Liebenscheid, while three animals remain missing. There were also two incidents in Bad Marienberg in which a total of four sheep and five fallow deer fell victim to wolves.

The source of the sheep killings has now been identified: DNA test results show that the Greifenstein couple's vixen is responsible. This situation has led to great discontent among the population. The Westerwald Wolf Prevention Citizens' Initiative organized a protest in Rehe on Friday, at which regional politicians and associations from Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia were present. The initiative criticizes the inadequate political response to the wolf attacks and calls for the animals to be shot. This shows that there is something really going on when you see the fears of livestock farmers and the reactions of politicians.

The wolves in the Palatinate

But wolves are not only active in the Westerwald. At least 22 sightings have been recorded in the Palatinate in recent years. There are current reports, particularly in the Southern Palatinate, where wolves have often been detected through DNA traces on dead animals or via wildlife cameras. In June and July 2025, several sightings were documented in the forest near Bellheim and in the Lustadt Forest. Particularly worth mentioning is a sighting in the municipality of Offenbach an der Queich, where the wolf was filmed four times in July, including in daylight Rheinpfalz reported.

The wolves in the region generally do not pose a threat to humans. On the contrary, they generally avoid contact. But as you might expect, caution is still advised when encountering these majestic animals. It is recommended to talk or clap loudly and back away slowly to avoid conflict.

Current challenges and opportunities

An estimated 1,600 to 2,000 wolves live in Rhineland-Palatinate, making them difficult to identify and track. With the ability to travel up to 80 kilometers per day, they are true masters of locomotion. In addition, there is currently no designated wolf territory in the Palatinate Forest, which further complicates the situation. An interesting theory is that the native lynx population may have a deterrent effect on wolves.

Overall, the discussion about wolves and their role in our region remains exciting. The citizens' initiative and politics must face the challenges together while the wolves continue to live their lives in the Westerwald and the Palatinate.