The carcass of the problem wolf shot near Nørre Nebel in West Jutland is now being examined in Copenhagen. The necropsy is meant to confirm the animal’s identity and look for physical causes of its behavior.
DR reports that the wolf, which was shot on Thursday, August 13, is being taken to Copenhagen for a full necropsy. The examination is carried out by veterinarian Anne Sofie Vedsted Hammer, PhD and associate professor at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, and her team.
According to DR, there is no doubt about how the animal died. The purpose is instead to establish whether it is the right wolf, and whether disease or injury can explain its behavior. Per Hammer, the team looks for signs of injuries, illnesses and any changes that could explain atypical behavior.
The carcass is being X-rayed, the fur is checked for parasites, and samples are taken from the organs. Investigators are also examining the contents of the stomach and intestines.
The examination will also try to determine where the animal migrated from, and whether it is a pure wolf. As stated by Hammer, wolves can have pups with dogs, and wolf-dog hybrids can show unwanted behavior. She said she does not expect this animal to be a hybrid.
Naturstyrelsen has previously stated that there is a high degree of certainty that the shot animal is the problem wolf. DR notes that this is the second time a problem wolf has been shot in Denmark.
How the wolf was shot
Politiken reported that an employee of Naturstyrelsen shot the animal from a distance of about 10 meters. The shot was fired in a forest area near Blåbjerg Plantage, inside the special regulation zone. According to the same report, thermal drones were used in the search, and another wolf was nearby when the problem wolf was shot.
The Agency for Green Area Conversion and Water Environment, Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø, established the zone around Nørre Nebel on August 7, 2026. In a notice dated August 14, 2026, the agency confirmed that the zones at Oksbøl and Nørre Nebel have been lifted, since their purpose has been achieved. The specific permits to shoot the animal were also revoked.
The animal was classified as a problem wolf after repeatedly seeking out people and proving very difficult to scare away. DR reported at least three incidents on August 5, 2026, in which a wolf entered private gardens and approached children in Nørre Nebel. The Copenhagen Post reported that Naturstyrelsen used a heat-seeking drone and ground patrols during the search.
