On November 7, the county administrative boards announced their decisions regarding licensed wolf hunting for 2026. The hunt will begin on January 2, and in this first step toward reaching the target of 170 wolves, the population will be reduced to 270 individuals by 2026. This means that the allocation is as high as 48 wolves. These are distributed across nine territories in the central and southern management areas.
The 2026 allocation is an increase of 18 individuals compared to this year’s licensed hunting, when 30 wolves were allowed to be killed. However, in 2025, only wolf families remained in four of the five territories, so the total number of wolves killed in licensed hunting in 2025 was 25.
The decision for 2026 has been made in consultation with the southern administrative area and Norway, with which Sweden shares territory. No cross-border hunting will take place in Norway in 2026. Which territories will be eliminated in Sweden is based on facts at the individual level. If Sweden’s isolated and genetically depleted wolf population is to have at least a theoretical chance of surviving in the long term, it is extremely important that no genetically important wolves are killed.
The Klyftamon territory in Västra Götaland is an example that has been selected according to these criteria.
“We are very focused on which wolves to shoot. There are no genetically important wolves here,” says Mia Bisther, predator officer at the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, and continues:
“The genetically important male that previously lived in the territory has been shot in a protective hunt. In addition, the wolves in this territory have made a number of attacks.
“We focus very much on which wolves are to be shot. There are no genetically important wolves here,” says Mia Bisther, predator officer at the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, and continues:
“The genetically important male that previously lived in the territory has been shot in a protective hunt. In addition, the wolves in this territory have made a number of attacks.
Risk of falling below 270 individuals
Criticism has been directed at the large allocation and the fact that the number is based on the 2024-2025 inventory, which was completed on March 31, 2025. That inventory only shows the number of wolves that were present in Sweden during the period in question. The official figure for 2025 was then set at approximately 355 individuals. However, since then, much has happened to the wolf population in terms of both rejuvenation and natural deaths, protective hunting, and illegal hunting. According to SLU’s calculations based on last year’s licensed hunting, Sweden should have had approximately 314 wolves as of October 1, 2025. With a licensed hunt of 48 individuals, we risk ending up with fewer than 270 individuals. However, this is not taken into account because the allocations strictly follow SLU’s calculation models and are to be based on the 2024-2025 inventory.
The Swedish Predator Association is highly critical of licensed hunting of wolves.
“Favorable conservation status cannot be determined politically; it is a strictly biological assessment. The wolf population in Sweden is already very small, vulnerable, and genetically isolated with a high degree of inbreeding. Instead, the species needs to be protected and allowed to grow in number and be given opportunities for genetic reinforcement through the immigration of wolves from the east,” says Jenny Olsson, press spokesperson and board member of the Swedish Predator Association.
The hunt is claimed to “balance interests” and reduce conflicts. In practice, it is a matter of responding to political pressure and short-term interests from certain lobby groups, rather than making decisions based on facts. “
The Swedish Predator Association believes that this is a new low in Swedish predator management that could cause irreparable damage. The Swedish wolf population is a central part of the Nordic predator fauna and has an important ecological function to fulfill. Further reducing the population, even though it is already one of the most genetically isolated in Europe, is indefensible.
Little hope for action from the EU
However, there is a possibility that the EU will not approve the politically motivated decision to grant 170 wolves favorable conservation status and will open infringement proceedings against Sweden.
“We may receive a notice of infringement from the EU, but we have not received one yet,” Mia Bisther notes.
“Until then, Swedish law applies.
In that case, the infringement notice must be issued before January 2, 2026, when licensed hunting begins. However, the Swedish Predator Association is not giving up and will appeal the licensed hunting decisions.
Susann Engqvist