Italian wolf attacks 2026

In mid‑July 2026, a wolf entered a farmhouse in Orbicciano, Tuscany, killing the family’s dog while a two‑year‑old child inside remained unharmed. Local authorities and the regional Task Force Lupo emphasized that the animal did not target people, countering early media speculation of a human‑targeted attack. The incident revived debate over the expanding presence of wolves in the Apennines and prompted calls for preventive measures.

A few weeks later, on 4 August, a six‑year‑old girl was attacked in a public garden in Noicattaro, near Bari. The wolf dragged the child, causing severe injuries that required intensive‑care treatment and an anti‑rabies vaccination. Officials ruled out a stray dog, identifying the attacker as an Italian wolf based on video evidence. They noted that the same animal had been seen near a prior child‑attack ten days earlier, suggesting a pattern of increasingly bold behavior.

Together, the two incidents illustrate a shift from livestock‑related wolf activity to direct human attacks, intensifying public concern and prompting heightened monitoring and investigation by Italian wildlife and health authorities.