Wolf reintroductions in Europe and North America have transformed ecosystems and raised welfare questions for both wolves and livestock in contact zones.
Reintroduced wolves face territory establishment stress, human persecution, and vehicle strikes. Livestock killed by wolves experience predation welfare harms — often death by throat bite or disembowelment. Livestock survivors of wolf attacks may have injuries requiring treatment or carry long-term stress responses. Livestock guardian dogs and secured night penning offer welfare-positive protection alternatives to wolf culling. Wolf family groups disrupted by culling show social fragmentation affecting pack welfare.