Risk wolf shot in East Tyrol – Außervillgraten affected after sheep kills

A wolf was ultimately identified as the perpetrator. The so-called risk wolf was then shot in East Tyrol on Friday. „Ein sogenannter Risikowolf ist am Freitag in Osttirol erlegt worden", the authorities said, according to APA. The state did not provide specific details on the course of the hunt or the exact location of the kill in the initial report.

The authorities urged the public to promptly report any tracks, sightings, or other indications of the presence of a large predator. „Die Behörde bat die Bevölkerung, etwaige Spuren, Sichtungen oder weitere Hinweise auf die Präsenz eines großen Beutegreifers rasch zu melden", the press release stated. Farmers in the region had previously been alarmed by several kills.

With the animal that was shot, the number of wolves already culled in Tyrol this year rises to nine. „In Tirol wurden damit heuer bereits neun Wölfe erlegt", the APA report of 26 June 2026 summarized. For comparison: throughout the entire year 2025, the figure had been six. „im gesamten Jahr 2025 waren es sechs gewesen", according to the data.

Figures: Culls in Tyrol

The culling is part of a broader debate over how to deal with wolves, which are once again appearing in greater numbers in the Alps. In Tyrol, the number of confirmed wolf kills had risen in recent years, prompting the state government to create the legal basis for targeted removals. Außervillgraten lies in the Villgratental, a region with extensive alpine pasture areas and numerous sheep holdings.

The ÖVP/SPÖ state government had already renewed the culling order for risk wolves in spring 2026. Under this, animals that repeatedly kill livestock or approach human settlements can be authorised for culling by decree. The State of Tyrol justifies this approach on the grounds of protecting pastoral farming and public safety.

Debate: Livestock Protection versus Regulation

Animal welfare organisations criticise the prevailing practice of culling and instead call for greater livestock protection through fences, herding dogs, and accompanying persons. From the nature conservation side, wolves are a strictly protected species whose regulation is permissible only in justified exceptional cases. The state government, by contrast, points to the applicable legal framework, which allows for removals in cases of proven damage.

The public is urged to continue reporting observations of large predators promptly so that the authorities can react quickly. In East Tyrol, repeated sightings have been reported in recent months and are being incorporated into the monitoring programme.

According to the information available, the wolf now shot was classified as a risk wolf within the meaning of the Tyrolean decree. The state announced that it would continue to monitor developments in the region and, if necessary, review further measures.

Reactions and Outlook

The APA report is dated 26 June 2026 and is based on the press release issued by the State of Tyrol. Further information, such as the sex or precise origin of the animal, was not provided in the initial announcement.

The case illustrates the ongoing conflict between pasture protection, nature conservation, and public safety in Austria's Alpine regions. Observers expect the number of culls to rise further should the wolf population in Tyrol increase again.