Denmark issues tourist warnings as wolves become less shy

The municipalities of Varde and the regional tourism board Visit Vesterhavet have printed bilingual flyers to advise visitors on how to react if they encounter a wolf in western Jutland. The guidance urges tourists to "show dominance", keep eye contact and, if necessary, "hit, kick, and use any object at hand" to defend themselves. The flyers, distributed at tourist offices, campsites and holiday‑rental agencies in Varde, Oksbøl, Blåvand and surrounding areas, are offered in Danish, German and English.

Wolves have been repopulating Denmark since 2012 after a two‑century absence. Monitoring by the Natural History Museum of Aarhus recorded 49 wolves in the country this year, with several packs establishing territories in west Jutland. Authorities noted a young pup that shows a marked reduction in shyness toward humans, but stress that no attacks have occurred and the overall risk remains low. The campaign aims to improve tourist safety and reduce misunderstandings about the protected species.