Wildlife
Wolf-culling permits rise sharply as Switzerland expands preventive controls
Federal authorities have issued substantially more permits for preventive wolf culls this autumn, with authorisations covering 39 packs compared with 22 at the same point last year. The increase follows changes to Switzerland’s hunting rules and is likely to intensify debate over livestock protection, biodiversity and the management of expanding wolf populations.
Authorisations now cover 39 packs, up from 22 a year earlier. Switzerland has expanded the reach of preventive wolf control as autumn 2026 begins, giving cantonal authorities access to a larger set of approved culling measures. The Federal Office for the Environment had issued legally binding permit decisions for 39 packs, compared with 22 packs at the same point in 2025.
The increase places wolf management firmly back on the national political agenda. Swiss authorities must balance the return and expansion of wolves with the protection of sheep, goats and other livestock in mountain regions. The decisions also give cantons a more active role in implementing federal wildlife policy, while keeping the FOEN responsible for the authorisations.
The permits concern preventive or partial culls, rather than an open-ended licence to remove entire populations. Their scope reflects the rules governing specific packs and the conditions attached to each decision. The rise follows changes to Switzerland’s Hunting Ordinance, which widened the legal framework for intervention before further damage occurs.
The policy shift comes as wolf numbers and pack distribution continue to grow. It has already produced sharply different reactions among farmers, conservationists and cantonal authorities, particularly in Alpine areas where livestock protection remains difficult and costly.
New Rules Move Intervention Earlier
The 2026 total is 17 packs higher than the comparable figure for 2025. That change cannot be separated from the revised hunting rules, which allow preventive decisions to be taken earlier in the management process. The Kora Foundation, commissioned by the federal government, told Keystone-SDA that the FOEN can now authorise the killing of wolf pups even before their presence has been confirmed.
The FOEN has set out a narrower practical interpretation. A spokesperson said young wolves may only be shot once their presence has been confirmed. That distinction matters because pack monitoring takes place in difficult terrain and often relies on tracks, camera images, genetic samples or direct sightings. The source material does not specify how many of the 39 decisions involve pups or how many wolves could ultimately be killed.
The amendment therefore changes the timing and potential reach of preventive control, while the confirmation requirement remains in place for the shooting of young animals. It also shifts more weight onto field evidence gathered by cantonal authorities and wildlife specialists.
In September, Graubünden reported 17 wolves shot in one operation, underscoring how quickly federal authorisations can translate into action on the ground. The canton has become a prominent arena in Switzerland’s debate over wolf control.