Wolves Observed Near Wrocław, Local Authorities Appeal for Caution

The authorities of the Kobierzyce and Siechnice municipalities in Lower Silesia have issued official appeals to residents following confirmed observations of a wolf in the immediate vicinity of residential buildings. The latest reports, dated February 24, 2026, indicate the animal was seen near the village of Gaj Oławski, located in the Siechnice municipality. The Mayor of Kobierzyce, Grzegorz Reszka, in a joint statement with the mayor of Siechnice, appealed for special caution. „I appeal for caution, especially during walks. Do not approach the animal.” — Grzegorz Reszka The local authorities' recommendations are standard for such situations and are preventive in nature. Residents are asked to avoid solitary walks after dusk in forested areas, to walk dogs only on a leash, and to remain calm and slowly move away in case of a direct encounter. Mayor Grzegorz Reszka emphasized that the goal is to ensure the safety of both people and the legally protected predator, not to cause panic. The observations from Lower Silesia are not isolated. Wolves were placed under strict protection in Poland in 1998, which allowed for the recovery of a population that was on the brink of extinction in the 1970s. It is estimated that over 2000 of these predators currently live in the country, and their expansion into new areas, including near human settlements, is a natural result of this effective protection. Simultaneously, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, the cause of an attack on animals at a private mini zoo in the village of Goreń Duży, Baruchowo municipality, is still being investigated. The incident occurred on the night of February 22-23. Two fallow deer were killed. The Mayor of Baruchowo, Paweł Grzegorzczyk, in a special appeal informed about the attack and expressed suspicion that wolves could be responsible. „We suspect it's wolves. I appeal to residents to exercise particular caution, especially during evening and morning walks with dogs.” — Paweł Grzegorzczyk Although wolves are a protected species, Mayor Grzegorzczyk has asked the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection to analyze the situation and possibly grant permission for culling if the threat to people and property is assessed as high. This procedure is extremely rare and requires meeting exceptional, rigorous conditions. According to naturalists, the increased visibility of wolves near buildings at this time of year may result from natural hunting cycles. Winter makes it harder to find food deep in the forest, which may encourage predators to seek easier prey, such as carcasses, inadequately secured livestock, or food scraps. prawda: Wolves generally avoid contact with humans. Aggressive behavior is extremely rare and usually provoked, e.g., by an off-leash dog or a direct threat to their young. (Experts from the Association for Nature Wolf) If a wolf is observed that appears sick, injured, or behaving unusually aggressively, the police or the local forestry district should be notified immediately. The municipal authorities emphasize that the main goal of their actions is education and prevention. Both in Lower Silesia and Kuyavian-Pomerania, services have not recorded direct attacks on people. The appeal for caution aims to prevent potentially dangerous situations that may arise from inappropriate human behavior, not from wolf aggression. ponad 2000 — individuals is the current estimated wolf population in Poland