Dyrenes Beskyttelse calls for ban on feeding wolves in Denmark

The animal welfare organization Dyrenes Beskyttelse is calling for feeding wolves to become a punishable offense in Denmark. The proposal follows the shooting of a suspected problem wolf near Nørre Nebel in Western Jutland.

Biologist Michael Carlsen noted that wolves develop problematic behavior when they lose their natural caution and learn to associate humans and settlements with easy food. Authorities from Naturstyrelsen shot the wolf after several incidents where it approached people in private gardens. While DNA testing is required to confirm the identity of the animal, officials expressed high confidence that the correct wolf was killed.

A previous note from researchers at Aarhus University suggested that human feeding might be a factor in the observed behavior of wolves in the Oksbøl area, though researchers noted they could only speculate on the exact causes.