Wolves of France

Wolves of France — The Return

The grey wolf () returned to France on its own. Unlike the Pyrenean bears, which were physically carried and released, wolves walked back — crossing from Italy through the Mercantour Pass in 1992, reclaiming territory their ancestors had lost a century earlier. Today, France has an estimated 1,100 wolves, growing at ~10–15% per year, and expanding far beyond the Alps into the Massif Central, Vosges, Pyrenees, and even the outskirts of Paris.

Seeing Wolves

Wild wolf sightings are extremely rare — they are wary, mainly nocturnal, and vanish at the first hint of human presence. But:

• Alpha Park (Mercantour/Saint-Martin-Vésubie): A semi-wild wolf park where wolves roam large enclosures in their natural Alpine habitat. Educational, well-managed.
• Tracking: Guided wolf-tracking experiences are offered in the Mercantour and Vercors — following tracks, scat, and howl sites at dusk.

Mercantour National Park — Visit the park where wolves returned to France — on La Porte.