Swedish wolf population and predation issues

The wolf population in Sweden and Norway is facing significant challenges related to declining numbers and genetic diversity. Long-term research from the Skandulv project indicates high levels of inbreeding within the Scandinavian population. While migrants from Finland and Russia have attempted to introduce new genetic material, many have been lost to disease, starvation, illegal killings, or legal predator control.

National inventories show a downward trend in the Swedish wolf population, with estimates falling from approximately 460 wolves in 2021/2022 to around 355 in the 2024/2025 period. In Örebro County, recent attacks on livestock and domestic animals have led to predator control measures, including the shooting of a female wolf.

In Kronoberg, a series of attacks on sheep has prompted DNA investigations to determine if a single wolf is responsible for multiple incidents. Authorities are monitoring whether the perpetrator is a high-value ‘F1’ wolf from Norway. If DNA results confirm the same individual is responsible for repeated attacks, officials may re-evaluate the legal grounds for protective hunting, which was previously difficult to justify due to the animal’s genetic importance.