polski
Wolves on the March: Minnesota Counts, Denmark Shoots
The gray wolf is returning to favor — or rather, to the forests — on both sides of the Atlantic, at a pace that surprises even ecologists themselves. This week we're looking at two very different approaches to managing the growing population of this predator: the American approach, built on data and monitoring, and the Danish one, which reaches for far more decisive legal measures.
01 · Population Monitoring
Minnesota: Pack by Pack, Data by Data [1]
The latest estimate from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is clear: the state's wolf population remains stable. That's roughly 2,431 individuals (with a margin of error of plus or minus 425), organized into about 460 packs, spread across nearly 26,000 square miles. The result is statistically almost identical to the 2025 figures — so no dramatic increase or decrease [1].
More interesting than the number itself is what the DNR plans to do next. The department is looking into rolling out new population-monitoring methods that would draw, among other things, on harvest data. It's an approach that combines classic pack counts with information gathered directly from hunters and wildlife management — a model that could also serve as inspiration for the Polish agencies responsible for managing large predator populations. The more precise the data, the better the decisions about where and how to intervene before conflicts with people and livestock owners start to escalate. This kind of approach, pairing field observations with hard harvest statistics, could well become the standard in Europe too in the future [1].
02 · Law and Culling
Denmark: From 14 to Nearly 50 Wolves in Five Years — and a New Law on Shooting Them [2]
If Minnesota illustrates stabilization, Denmark is the complete opposite. The Danish wolf population has exploded — from just 14 individuals in 2021 to roughly 49 adult wolves today, plus as many as 61 pups born in the spring of 2026. The scale of growth over five years is striking, but it comes at a cost: in 2025, wolves killed 1,285 head of livestock, which for many Danish farmers meant real financial losses and a sense of helplessness in the face of a growing threat [2].
Pressure from farmers and rural residents has led to a change in the law that would have seemed unthinkable not long ago in a liberal EU member state. As of September 1, 2026, any Danish resident may legally shoot a wolf deemed dangerous if a warning shot fails to make the animal retreat. Importantly, the European Commission did not authorize broad culling — it rejected such proposals, agreeing only to the elimination of individuals that pose a genuine threat. It's a precedent that shows how EU species-protection law holds up against real social and economic pressure, and just how far member states can go in defending local interests [2].
03
Two Models, One Challenge
Placing these two stories side by side shows how different strategies for managing the same species' population can be, depending on the scale of the problem and the social context. Minnesota, with a stable population, is investing in better measurement tools to stay ahead of potential tensions before they turn into open conflict. Denmark, facing a rapid surge and real losses in livestock farming, has had to reach for far more radical solutions — albeit ones still bound by EU species-protection rules.
For Poland's hunting sector, this is a lesson for the future: both good data and clear, predictable law are the foundations that make it possible to respond before a situation spirals out of control. Whether a predator population grows slowly or at breakneck speed, the key remains a swift response grounded in reliable data.
This and many other aspects of modern game population management will be up for discussion in person at the Międzynarodowe Targi Myśliwskie – Hunting Expo 2026. Stay tuned for the next installments of our industry roundup!
Invitation
From data to legislation — managing large predator populations is one of the key challenges facing modern hunting. Visit the Międzynarodowe Targi Myśliwskie – Hunting Expo 2026 and talk to experts about modern monitoring, field technologies, and the changing hunting laws across Europe and the world.
Hunting Expo 2026References
[1] Outdoor News — https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/09/30/minnesotas-wolf-population-remains-stable-dnr-considers-new-monitoring/[2] National Geographic / Yahoo News — https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/afraid-big-bad-danish-wolf-143231497.html
This review was prepared by the Ptak Warsaw Expo editorial team.