Wolf shot in the district of Imst: animal killed near Sellrain

The responsible authorities of the Province of Tyrol had issued the corresponding ordinance in order to remove the wolf, classified as a so-called "Schadwolf" (damage-causing wolf). Such shooting orders are issued in Tyrol when a wolf has demonstrably killed livestock and no reasonable protective measures take effect. The district administrative authority of Imst was tasked with carrying out the order.

Background to the incident

According to APA, the killed sheep were found in an alpine area in St. Sigmund im Sellrain, a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land. The alpine area lies in immediate proximity to the border with the district of Imst. In addition to the five dead animals, four other injured sheep had to be treated.

In Tyrol, the occurrence of wolves and the associated conflicts with alpine farming had been discussed repeatedly in recent years. The Province of Tyrol had subsequently adopted various measures for herd protection as well as regulations for removals. The killing of the animal now carried out is part of this established practice.

The procedure follows a clearly defined process: First, the so-called "Rissbegutachter" (kill assessor) – in this case noted in the documents with the abbreviation "Rissbilde" – is called in to document the damage. The authority then checks whether the requirements for a removal are met and, if necessary, issues a corresponding ordinance. Only thereafter may the animal be shot.

Course of the removal

The shooting itself was carried out by authorised persons in the district of Imst. The responsible authority pointed out that such measures always concern only the specific animal causing the damage and do not apply to the entire wolf population in Tyrol. There is no associated disturbance of the regional stock.

Representatives of agriculture in the affected districts of Innsbruck-Land and Imst had recently pointed out repeatedly the burdens caused by wolf kills for alpine farmers. The compensation for losses is regulated under Tyrol's wolf management. According to the Province, the removal now carried out is intended to end the acute danger to the grazing animals in the alpine area.

Voices from agriculture and nature conservation

Nature conservation organisations are fundamentally critical of shooting a wolf and refer to the importance of prevention and herd protection measures such as electric fences and herd protection dogs. They demand that such removals be used only as a last resort. The Tyrolean provincial government had set out in its ordinance that the requirements for a removal were met in this case.

The incident illustrates the ongoing tension between the interests of alpine farming and the goals of wolf management in Tyrol. While farmers expect protection for their herds, nature conservation associations emphasise the strict requirements for removals. The Province of Tyrol intends to stick to its multi-stage procedure of prevention, damage assessment and, where applicable, removal.

The APA report of 8 August 2026 describes the killing incident and the subsequent official response. Further details on the exact circumstances of the shooting or on ongoing proceedings were initially not made public by the authorities. According to the Province, the affected alpine pasture in St. Sigmund im Sellrain continues to be farmed.

Outlook on Tyrol's wolf management

Overall, the case shows how quickly official measures can take effect when a wolf is clearly identified as a "Schadwolf." Only a few days passed from the discovery of the killed sheep to the execution of the ordinance. Observers see this as a signal to the affected alpine farmers that their concerns are being taken seriously.

In conclusion, it remains to be noted that the Province of Tyrol wants to inform the population about future developments in wolf management. The Tyrolean provincial government also pointed to the existing funding programmes for herd protection measures, with which alpine farmers can protect themselves against further kills.