Finland to allow wolf hunting in 2026 as environmental groups criticise move

HELSINKI – Finland will allow limited hunting of wolves in 2026 to manage their growing population, repealing year-round protections that had been in place since 1973.

Amendments to Finland’s Hunting Act will allow wolf hunting during restricted periods based on regional quotas, set by its Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The hunting period has been proposed to take place from Jan 1 to Feb 10 in 2026, with the final decision on dates expected on Dec 30.

Previously, the killing of wolves had been permitted only when they posed a risk or caused severe damage.

The Bill, which passed the country’s Parliament easily in December, could also relax strict rules on hunting lynx and bears, though a final decision will be taken later.

Under the law, at least 65 wolves could be killed in the coming winter season, the Finnish government has said.

According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the country had an estimated 430 wolves in March – a 46 per cent increase from a year earlier, with most of them in the south-western parts of the country.

Security concerns about encounters with wolves and the risks they pose to livestock were reasons for the changes, which came after the European Union earlier in 2025 downgraded the wolf’s protected status.

This came as its range and numbers spread throughout the continent.

Environmental organisations have criticised the Bill, saying it threatens to breach the EU’s habitats directive.

Finland’s Association for Nature Conservation has said a vital wolf population should consist of at least 525 individuals.

But the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has put the reference number for ensuring the wolf’s conservation status at 273 wolves.

According to a November survey commissioned by two animal rights organisations, 62 per cent of Finns said wolf hunting should not be introduced under current circumstances. AFP