Loyal wolves already live in eleven regions in Bavaria. Two packs, three pairs, and a single wolf with a home in the Free State were identified in 2022.
The Federal Nature Conservation Association is moving away from its categorical rejection of any shooting. The association is shifting its pain threshold and, under certain conditions, agreeing to easier shooting in the area of mountain pastures and the Alps. The number of animals killed or injured by wolves has increased in recent years. In 2022, there were 77 wolves in the Bavarian region, according to the monitoring report for 2022/2023. The state government and parts of the agricultural sector are calling for the rapid removal of all animals, regardless of whether they have previously killed farm animals or whether they appear near urban or rural areas without any apparent fear. There is compensation and support for herd protection, but the path to get there is not always easy. In Bavaria, not every expert is allowed to officially decide whether a wolf actually killed an animal. Last year, three shepherds from the Rhone submitted an application to remove wolves, which was approved by the government.