Wildlife officials report possible new wolf territory forming in Söderköping municipality. This would be the third wolf territory in Östergötland county. The area already hosts the Långbogen territory between Borensberg and Finspång, plus Fågelmossen in northern Motala.
Jim Forsberg from the county administration said they've been tracking wolves in the Söderköping area. "The inventory is ongoing, but we don't have confirmation of territory marking yet," he stated. "Nothing is fully confirmed."
The ongoing predator inventory asks residents to report wolf sightings or suspected wolf droppings through the Skandobs reporting system. Officials collected droppings for DNA testing to determine the wolves' sex and origin.
"We're not completely sure if it's a male and female pair in Söderköping," Forsberg explained. "We're uncertain until we get the DNA results."
The two wolves mainly move east of highway E22 in Söderköping municipality. Officials note the animals cover large areas and might continue wandering.
This spring, wolves attacked sheep in the Sankt Anna archipelago nearby. Such incidents often occur when wolves establish new territories near farmland.
Wildlife management remains challenging as Sweden balances conservation with farmers' concerns. DNA results from the current investigation should provide clearer answers about the wolves' intentions.