Sweden wolf population faces genetic risks and declining numbers

The wolf population in Sweden and Norway faces challenges regarding genetic diversity and survival rates. Research from the Skandulv project, spanning 25 years, indicates that the Scandinavian wolf population suffers from high levels of inbreeding. While 44 wolves have migrated from Finland and Russia into Sweden since 2010 to provide much-needed new genetic material, only 11 reached reproductive areas. Many of these migrants were lost to legal predator control in reindeer husbandry areas, illegal killings, or natural causes such as disease and starvation.

In Örebro County, recent incidents involving attacks on livestock, including horses, cattle, and dogs, have led to predator control measures. A female wolf was recently shot following attacks north of Karlskoga, though hunters reported seeing three additional wolves in the vicinity during the operation. National inventories show a declining trend in the Swedish wolf population, with estimates dropping from approximately 460 wolves in 2021/2022 to around 355 in the 2024/2025 period.