The Wolves Next Door. A look at the science of non-lethal prevention.

In Italy, wolves are adapting to peri-urban environments, displaying reduced fear of humans when in packs — a behavioral shift driven by overall population growth and subsequent territorial competition.

This expansion is fueled by increased forest cover, an abundance of prey such as roe deer and wild boar, and the presence of protected areas.

The wolf population in Italy now exceeds 3,000 individuals, with numbers doubling in some Alpine regions in recent years. This surge is pushing some packs toward less ideal habitats, including the outskirts of urban areas.

Recent studies confirm that these “urban wolves” exhibit reduced neophobia when in a group. While this facilitates coexistence in shared spaces, it also increases the potential for conflict with humans.

In response, recent legislation (Law 131/2025 and the subsequent ministerial decree of 2026) has reclassified the wolf’s status from “strictly protected” to “protected.” This change authorizes controlled culls of up to 160 wolves annually — roughly 5% of the estimated population — as a measure to manage overpopulation and mitigate damages. This aligns with EU regulations (Habitats Directive) by invoking derogations for reasons of public safety and agricultural protection.

However, a range of non-lethal methods exist, promoted by projects like Life Wolf Alps. These strategies include:

• Sterilization: Applied to captured wolf-dog hybrids, which are then released with radio collars.
• Guardian dogs and electrified fences to protect livestock.
• Waste management to reduce artificial food sources.
• Visual and acoustic deterrents.

Capture for sterilization or relocation is possible with authorization from ISPRA (the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and the Ministry. However, various studies indicate the general ineffectiveness of selective culling compared to non-lethal prevention. Conversely, large-scale sterilization campaigns involving thousands of wolves would be prohibitively expensive and logistically complex.

Regions like Trentino and Piedmont are already utilizing these alternative systems instead of culling.

Can someone explain this to the current government?