Reintroducing wolves to ecosystems from which they were extirpated has important implications for the welfare of wolves themselves, their prey species, and livestock in surrounding areas.
Wolf reintroduction involves complex welfare trade-offs that play out at population and ecosystem levels. For wolves themselves, reintroduction offers the welfare benefit of living in natural conditions with appropriate social structure and territory, though novel wolves face elevated mortality from human conflict and road collisions. For prey species such as deer and elk, wolves create predation pressure but may also drive behavioural changes that reduce browsing-related habitat degradation, with complex downstream welfare effects. Livestock welfare in wolf range areas requires investment in prevention measures including guardian animals, electric fencing, and herding practices that reduce predation without resorting to lethal control of wolves.