Dead roe deer found prompts call for wolf policy debate

A dead roe deer found on a walking path near Vandel in Vejle Municipality has prompted local resident Jensine Grøndal to push for signatures on a citizens’ initiative demanding political action on wolves in Denmark.

Grøndal discovered the carcass during a walk, describing it as partially consumed with its throat bitten through and ribs severed. She and her companions immediately suspected a wolf attack, though the Danish Nature Agency was not called to assess the scene.

“We were shocked and really scared,” Grøndal told DR. She later consulted a hunter she knows, who confirmed the damage was consistent with a wolf.

Grøndal, who has previously seen wolves in the area, now supports a citizens’ initiative titled “No to free-roaming wolves in Denmark,” which has already gathered over 20,000 signatures. The proposal calls for stricter wolf management, including their removal from Danish nature, and explores whether a border fence with Germany could limit their entry.

“I’m afraid a serious accident will happen before anyone acts,” she said, citing widespread unease in Vandel over encounters with wolves near homes, livestock, and walking trails. “It’s simply too unsafe.”

The initiative, filed on May 29, 2026, requires 50,000 signatures to be considered by the Folketing. Its backers argue Denmark is too small and densely populated for free-roaming wolves, posing risks to farmers, pet owners, and rural residents.

Grøndal dismissed the idea of wolves as harmless wildlife: “It doesn’t behave like a normal animal. It’s not afraid of us.”