Residents of the Moscow region are concerned about the growing number of wolves in the area. The Moscow Evening Correspondent spoke to the zoologist and found out if this is true.
With the arrival of spring, social media users began to panic, discussing the sudden invasion of wolves in the Moscow region. A number of news channels reported that during the winter of 2025-2026, the number of predators increased almost fivefold – from 30 to 130 individuals. Now nearly a dozen packs of wolves hunt in the area, and people meet them near villages and huts in several areas at once.
But, of course, there was no official confirmation at the time of publication. It is also unclear who the original source was referring to. After some time, the information was commented on by the Fishing Control Department of the State Ministry for the Moscow Region. They reported that only about 13 wolves live in the area. The Moscow Region Forestry Committee also commented on the situation.
The administration stated, “It is possible that wolves from other regions appear periodically in the region, usually in the border areas, which happens due to seasonal factors.”
“Moscow Evening” spoke with zoologist, dog scientist and founder of the school of progressive anatomy Anna Eliseeva and found out why wolves approach populated areas.
“As a rule, the emergence of predators is associated with food resources,” Eliseeva said. “This may be a sign that there is not enough food in the forest.” So wolves can approach garbage dumps where wild animals can easily find food.
There is another possible reason as well. Natural habitats of predators are actively developed by people.
“The increase in the number of wolves could be questionable,” Eliseeva stressed. “We do not know how many predators live in the vast forest area. It seems to people that there are many of them, simply because those wolves far from human eyes have come into contact with them.
But if you happen to meet an animal, the main thing is not to panic. You’d better stop and not look the monster in the eyes. He walked away from him quietly. The same rule also applies to stray dogs, which are more likely to be found in the city.
Habits
Wolves live in a pack that can consist of up to 30 individuals, but is usually a small group of about four to seven predators. They hunt collectively. They disperse to different parts of the area to find prey. When a victim is discovered, an ambush is set up. When meeting a person, the wolf usually takes a defensive stance. Its behavior often depends on the person’s reaction.