Graubünden Kills 35 Wolves in Second Year of Proactive Culling

Thirty-five wolves are dead in Graubünden, marking the end of a decisive and controversial regulation phase that ran from September to January. While the figure is substantial, it represents a notable drop—13 fewer kills than the previous year—signaling a potential shift in the dynamics of the region's wildlife management. This is not merely a hunt; it is a calculated state operation executed by authorized hunters and gamekeepers under the strict auspices of the revised federal Hunting Act.

The authorities are not shying away from the reality of these numbers. Instead, they frame this intervention as a critical necessity for the survival of Alpine agriculture and rural safety. The cull is part of a broader, proactive strategy designed to manage predator populations before conflicts escalate. By aggressively enforcing these regulations, Graubünden is attempting to stabilize a volatile situation, balancing the protection of livestock with the preservation of the wolf as a species. The reduction in total kills suggests that the population dynamics may already be responding to the pressure, though officials remain vigilant.

The precision of this year's operation is evident in the breakdown of the statistics: 32 of the culled animals were removed from ten specific packs, while three were individual wolves targeted specifically for problematic behavior. This distinction is crucial. The Office for Hunting and Fishing is not engaging in indiscriminate slaughter but is instead executing a surgical removal of animals that threaten the delicate balance of the canton.

Authorities report that nearly two-thirds of the quota for young animals, authorized by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), has been exhausted. The intended psychological impact on the surviving population appears to be taking hold. Officials note that the wolves are becoming increasingly shy—a "desired effect" that is essential for reducing human-wildlife conflict. By instilling a fear of humans back into these apex predators, the canton aims to reduce attacks on livestock and encroachments into settlements. However, this behavioral engineering is a high-stakes experiment, and the long-term success of conditioning wild packs remains to be fully verified.

Graubünden stands at the epicenter of Switzerland's wolf management debate, having submitted more applications for preventive culling to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) than any other canton. While Ticino and Valais also grapple with predator populations, it is Graubünden that is aggressively testing the limits of the revised Hunting Act. This legislation empowers cantons to take preventive action, shifting the paradigm from reactive killing after livestock loss to proactive population control.

This aggressive stance highlights the unique burden faced by Switzerland's largest canton, where the intersection of rugged wilderness and alpine farming creates a flashpoint for conflict. The federal government's authorization of these culls validates the canton's approach, acknowledging that passive conservation is no longer a viable option in regions with high wolf densities. The data emerging from Graubünden serves as a bellwether for the rest of the country, setting precedents for how Switzerland will navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape of wildlife management in the years to come.

The ultimate goal remains a sustainable coexistence, but the path forward is paved with uncertainty. While the Office for Hunting and Fishing claims success in making wolves shyer, they concede that data from several years will be required to conclusively assess the long-term effects on pack presence and behavior. We are in the midst of a biological waiting game.

The reduction in kills this year compared to last could be interpreted in two ways: either the population is stabilizing, or the surviving wolves have become elusive enough to evade hunters. For the people of Graubünden, the stakes could not be higher. If the strategy works, it could provide a blueprint for the rest of Europe. If it fails, the conflict between pastoral traditions and rewilding efforts will only intensify. As the snow melts and the herds return to the high pastures this spring, the true effectiveness of this winter's 35 kills will be put to the test.