Danish authorities refuse meeting on wolf attacks, leaving locals without guidance

Residents near Egtved say they have been abandoned by officials after repeated wolf attacks on livestock, with a government agency rejecting their request for a meeting to address the growing crisis, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Since April 1, wolves have killed six animals—including two ponies and a ram—in the area, according to the Danish Nature Agency. Local farmer Kurt Johansen, who has lost livestock, said residents now face daily uncertainty over how to protect their animals. “Every morning, I check if all the sheep are still there,” said Lisbeth Møller Kjær, a resident. “You’re always wondering: Is today the day the wolf comes?”

The community formed a citizen group and formally requested a meeting with the Agency for Green Transition and Water Environments to clarify rules on wolf management. In response, the agency cited its limited capacity as a “caretaker ministry” during ongoing government negotiations, declining to hold discussions.

Legal experts dispute this stance. Frederik Waage, a professor of administrative law at the University of Southern Denmark, told DR the agency could legally convene such a meeting. “There’s a tendency to overinterpret the constitutional provision limiting ministries to essential functions,” he said.

With no official guidance, residents are now inviting politicians directly to Egtved to witness the situation. Many say their pastures cannot be wolf-proofed and demand clearer rules on deterrence. Fear has spread beyond farmers: parents avoid forests with children, runners alter routes, and pet owners keep dogs leashed.

One pensioner, Carl Petersen, who has seen a wolf locally, supports regulated culling of “problem wolves” but opposes broader eradication. Others, like schoolteacher Maria Teislev, want wolves relocated farther from homes. “We don’t let our horses graze at night anymore—the risk is too high,” she said.

The wolf’s presence has divided opinions but unified frustration over inaction. “We just need to know: What are we allowed to do?” Johansen said.