Swedish Administrative Court Halts 2026 Licensed Wolf Hunting Over Conservation Concerns

The Administrative Court in Luleå has suspended all planned licensed wolf hunting for the 2026 season, citing inadequate proof that the hunts would not threaten the species' conservation status. The ruling affects five counties where hunting was set to commence on January 2, 2026, with a total of 48 wolves previously authorized for culling across Örebro, Södermanland, Västra Götaland, Västmanland, and Dalarna counties. Värmland County had already decided against hunting this year due to a decline in its wolf population.

The decision follows an appeal filed by Naturskyddsföreningen, a Swedish environmental organization, which argued that the government's allowance for extensive hunting amounts to illegal persecution of a protected, highly endangered species. One major contentious issue is the government's recent reduction of the reference value for a favorable conservation status for wolves from 300 individuals to 170. This controversial adjustment has drawn sharp criticism from the European Commission, which labeled it unscientific and warned it threatens the species’ long-term viability.

The court found that the county administrative boards failed to prove that the proposed hunts would not impair the wolf population’s favorable conservation status. Presiding judge Victoria Bäckström highlighted the urgency of the ruling given the proximity of the hunting start date and the late submission of appeals.

Additionally, the ruling has sparked criticism from hunting authorities. A representative from Jägarnas riksförbund remarked on the peculiar nature of the decision, noting how a government-approved hunt can be overturned due to insufficient evidence from regional authorities regarding the impact on wolf conservation.

This judicial intervention reflects ongoing tensions between conservation efforts, governmental wildlife management policies, and hunting interests. For now, all licensed wolf hunting activities are on hold pending further legal and administrative review.