The Problem Wolf Is No More
Ten years ago, environmentalists celebrated the return of wolves to the Netherlands as the animals crossed over from Germany for the first time in generations. That celebration faded as the population grew and conflicts increased, culminating in the rise of a so-called “problem wolf” known as Bram — a figure that became infamous nationwide.
Bram was blamed for repeatedly approaching, and in some cases biting, people near wooded areas close to Utrecht, one of the country’s largest cities. His behavior prompted authorities to issue an unprecedented warning advising residents to stay out of nearby forests.
That warning was lifted on Friday after DNA tests confirmed that a wolf shot by hunters last week was indeed Bram.
According to the European Commission, there are around 23,000 wild wolves in Europe and the population increased by 35% between 2016 and 2023.
➡️ https://t.co/12m9czEYJp pic.twitter.com/0ef9YW3WF4— euronews (@euronews) December 12, 2025
According to the Associated Press, Utrecht Province issued a permit to kill the wolf — officially identified as GW3237m — following multiple reported incidents involving humans. Earlier this year, officials had urged people to avoid forested land between two major highways in the region.
“Now the problem wolf has been removed from the population, the direct threat and the advice to avoid the area no longer apply,” the province said in a statement. Authorities emphasized that general safety guidelines for living in wolf territory remain in effect.
DNA confirms wolf shot dead by hunters was “problem wolf” Bram https://t.co/PPzAOjeAYI pic.twitter.com/6jqpCbGC9i
— DutchNews.NL (@DutchNewsNL) December 12, 2025
The case highlights the challenges the densely populated Netherlands faces as it adapts to the return of an apex predator, nearly 200 years after wolves were hunted to extinction in the country.
The site where Bram was killed has since been covered with flowers, reflecting ongoing tensions between environmental activists and public safety concerns.
Across Europe, the wolf population continues to grow. There are now more than 23,000 wild wolves on the continent — a 35% increase since 2016. Large packs roam parts of Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Spain.