Denmark’s loneliest wolf forms family as first pups in centuries expected in North Jutland

A male wolf that has lived alone in northern Denmark for years has now paired with a female, with experts predicting the first wolf pups in centuries will soon be born north of the Limfjord, state broadcaster DR reports.

The wolf, known as GW781m, was first recorded in the area between Frederikshavn and Skagen in 2017 and had remained solitary until last year, when he was observed with a female. According to Peter Sunde, a wolf expert and professor at Aarhus University’s Department of Ecoscience, the pair is now expected to produce pups within weeks.

“The couple in the Råbjerg territory has been together for a year now, and all signs indicate they should be ready to have offspring in the next few weeks,” Sunde told DR.

If the pups are born, they will mark the first wolves born north of the Limfjord in several hundred years. Until now, only four wolves have been recorded in the region, all of which migrated from areas further south.

Sunde anticipates that once the pups mature, they will disperse to establish new territories, potentially leading to a broader wolf presence in North Jutland in the coming years. “When the pups turn one, they’ll start looking for new areas to settle,” he said.

The growing wolf population is expected to primarily impact sheep farmers, who may face increased predation risks. Sunde advises farmers in wolf-inhabited areas to use wolf-proof fencing to protect their livestock. “Otherwise, they’ll likely receive a visit sooner or later,” he warned.

Last year, Denmark recorded 44 new wolf pups, with most breeding pairs concentrated in West Jutland. However, pups were also observed in Lille Vildmose, southeast of Aalborg. Wolves returned to Denmark in 2012 after an absence of over 200 years, with all current populations confined to Jutland.