Wolves kill almost 200 sheep in Saxony over six months

Sheep farmers in Saxony report the loss of roughly 200 animals in the first half of 2026, with 168 confirmed dead, 18 injured and ten missing after wolf attacks. The Saxon Sheep and Goat Breeders Association says the timing is especially damaging ahead of lambing season. The state has revised its herd‑protection rules, allowing wolves to be shot after a verified livestock loss, following a downgrade of the species’ protection status by the EU.

In the neighboring Saarland, authorities have recorded a rise in wolf detections, counting 16 confirmed sightings by June 2026 compared with 12 in all of 2025. The region also sees increasing incursions of wild boars, raccoons and other wildlife into residential gardens, prompting the city of Saarbrücken to hold a "wild boar summit" and consider cage‑trap deployment. Experts attribute the trend to abundant food sources such as unsecured waste and garden refuse.