It was one of those quiet mornings that make you get up early, and yet you know exactly why you’re doing it. The sun had only just risen, mist still hung over the meadows, and I was simply looking out for deer among the tall grass. Then, all of a sudden, I realized that someone had been watching me for quite some time. Calm. Alert. A wolf. Not somewhere in Canada—but here. In Germany. And that sense of calm was the most remarkable part of the entire encounter.
The Calmness of the Wolf
Although I have encountered many wild animals and have also had experiences with large predators, this moment completely overwhelmed me.
Because the most remarkable thing about this encounter was not how rare it was.
It was the calmness.
The wolf simply stood there and watched me.
Not aggressive.
Not nervous.
Not the way many people imagine a wolf.
It wanted to know what I was. Whether I posed a threat. And that is exactly what wild animals do all the time: they observe their surroundings, assess situations, and respond accordingly.
Because I have spent my entire life carefully observing animals—first pets, and later more and more wildlife—I was able to assess the situation quite well. Over time, you develop a sense for when an animal is nervous and when it is not.
And that is exactly why I wasn’t afraid.
The wolf noticed me, watched me for a few seconds, and then simply decided to continue on its way.
Completely calm.
Completely natural.
I am fairly certain that this is how most wolf encounters happen.
A brief moment of observation.
A mutual awareness of one another.
And then both go their separate ways.
If you ever encounter a wolf yourself, enjoy the moment—because it usually won’t last very long.
Because the most remarkable thing about this encounter was not how rare it was.
It was the calmness.
The wolf simply stood there and watched me.
Not aggressive.
Not nervous.
Not the way many people imagine a wolf.
It wanted to know what I was. Whether I posed a threat. And that is exactly what wild animals do all the time: they observe their surroundings, assess situations, and respond accordingly.
Because I have spent my entire life carefully observing animals—first pets, and later more and more wildlife—I was able to assess the situation quite well. Over time, you develop a sense for when an animal is nervous and when it is not.
And that is exactly why I wasn’t afraid.
The wolf noticed me, watched me for a few seconds, and then simply decided to continue on its way.
Completely calm.
Completely natural.
I am fairly certain that this is how most wolf encounters happen.
A brief moment of observation.
A mutual awareness of one another.
And then both go their separate ways.
If you ever encounter a wolf yourself, enjoy the moment—because it usually won’t last very long.
Why Wolves Are Such an Emotional Topic
Despite this, wolves remain an incredibly emotional topic of discussion in Germany. That is exactly why I have usually chosen to stay relatively quiet about the subject in the past. Because no matter how objectively you try to discuss it, conversations often lose their objectivity very quickly.
Not least because there are many different interests involved when it comes to wolves.
For some livestock farmers, wolves mean additional work and higher demands for protecting their animals. For hunters, wolves change the ecosystem and therefore also influence wildlife management. The media, understandably, often prefer dramatic stories over calm and nuanced observations.
What is often interesting is not only what is reported—but also what is left out.
Many headlines sound dramatic:
“Wolf attacks human.”
“Wolf attacks dog.”
“Wolf loses fear of humans.”
The actual background story, however, is often barely mentioned or heavily shortened.
For example, I remember a case in which a great deal was reported about a “wolf attack” after a person had been bitten. What many reports failed to mention, however, was that the wolf had previously been harassed with a shovel and cornered.
And suddenly, the same story appears much more nuanced.
Of course, that does not mean problems should be ignored. Protecting livestock is important. Conflicts between humans and wildlife do exist. And naturally, situations must be assessed objectively.
But there is a world of difference between objective assessment and fear.
Not least because there are many different interests involved when it comes to wolves.
For some livestock farmers, wolves mean additional work and higher demands for protecting their animals. For hunters, wolves change the ecosystem and therefore also influence wildlife management. The media, understandably, often prefer dramatic stories over calm and nuanced observations.
What is often interesting is not only what is reported—but also what is left out.
Many headlines sound dramatic:
“Wolf attacks human.”
“Wolf attacks dog.”
“Wolf loses fear of humans.”
The actual background story, however, is often barely mentioned or heavily shortened.
For example, I remember a case in which a great deal was reported about a “wolf attack” after a person had been bitten. What many reports failed to mention, however, was that the wolf had previously been harassed with a shovel and cornered.
And suddenly, the same story appears much more nuanced.
Of course, that does not mean problems should be ignored. Protecting livestock is important. Conflicts between humans and wildlife do exist. And naturally, situations must be assessed objectively.
But there is a world of difference between objective assessment and fear.
How Much Space Are We Still Willing to Give Wildlife?
That is exactly why this topic has become so important to me.
Because in the end, it is not really just about wolves.
It is about the question of how much space we are still willing to give wildlife at all.
Today, around 96% of the world’s mammal biomass consists of humans and the animals we keep—primarily livestock and pets. Only a very small proportion remains as wildlife.
And among those remaining few percent are species as diverse as the European hare, the elephant, the polar bear, the lion—and, of course, the wolf.
Of course, we live in an extremely densely populated country. Of course, conflicts arise as a result. And of course, living alongside large wild animals is challenging.
But that only makes me wonder even more:
How much room are we actually willing to give nature if our own interests always take priority?
Because often, it is no longer just about safety or actual danger.
It is also about the expectation that wildlife should become as invisible as possible in our modern world—because it causes inconvenience, requires effort, or simply no longer fits into the image of a completely controlled landscape.
On top of that, we often view wild animals in surprisingly human terms. We assign intentions and motives to them that often reveal more about our own perspective than about the animal itself.
A wolf does not know municipal boundaries, property lines, or societal debates about its existence. It moves through its environment and responds to what it finds there. Not every sighting is unusual behavior. Often, it is simply a wolf moving through its landscape. What may seem extraordinary or even concerning to people is often perfectly normal behavior for the animal.
That is exactly why an encounter like this affects me so deeply.
Because it reminds us that nature is not entirely under our control.
And that true wilderness still exists here.
Because in the end, it is not really just about wolves.
It is about the question of how much space we are still willing to give wildlife at all.
Today, around 96% of the world’s mammal biomass consists of humans and the animals we keep—primarily livestock and pets. Only a very small proportion remains as wildlife.
And among those remaining few percent are species as diverse as the European hare, the elephant, the polar bear, the lion—and, of course, the wolf.
Of course, we live in an extremely densely populated country. Of course, conflicts arise as a result. And of course, living alongside large wild animals is challenging.
But that only makes me wonder even more:
How much room are we actually willing to give nature if our own interests always take priority?
Because often, it is no longer just about safety or actual danger.
It is also about the expectation that wildlife should become as invisible as possible in our modern world—because it causes inconvenience, requires effort, or simply no longer fits into the image of a completely controlled landscape.
On top of that, we often view wild animals in surprisingly human terms. We assign intentions and motives to them that often reveal more about our own perspective than about the animal itself.
A wolf does not know municipal boundaries, property lines, or societal debates about its existence. It moves through its environment and responds to what it finds there. Not every sighting is unusual behavior. Often, it is simply a wolf moving through its landscape. What may seem extraordinary or even concerning to people is often perfectly normal behavior for the animal.
That is exactly why an encounter like this affects me so deeply.
Because it reminds us that nature is not entirely under our control.
And that true wilderness still exists here.
Why I Won’t Reveal the Location
Since publishing the photos, several people have asked me where exactly this encounter took place.
And I completely understand that curiosity.
Nevertheless, I will not reveal the location publicly.
Not because I want to make it a secret.
But because I believe wildlife needs places where it can retreat undisturbed.
Especially through social media, sightings like this spread incredibly quickly today. One person tells another, then someone decides to visit the area, then someone else follows—and suddenly a single sighting turns into a location that people actively seek out.
And that is often where stress for the animals begins.
And I completely understand that curiosity.
Nevertheless, I will not reveal the location publicly.
Not because I want to make it a secret.
But because I believe wildlife needs places where it can retreat undisturbed.
Especially through social media, sightings like this spread incredibly quickly today. One person tells another, then someone decides to visit the area, then someone else follows—and suddenly a single sighting turns into a location that people actively seek out.
And that is often where stress for the animals begins.
Why Ethical Wildlife Photography Has Become So Important to Me
This is exactly the area where I have learned the most myself over the past few years.
Especially when you first start wildlife photography, it is easy to approach many things rather naively. You get excited about every sighting and every photo, and sometimes you do not think enough about the impact humans can have on animals.
I have certainly made mistakes myself.
Today, ethical wildlife photography is extremely important to me.
For me, that means neither feeding wild animals nor pursuing them or causing them unnecessary stress—even if that means missing out on the more spectacular photograph.
Because in the end, the well-being of the animal should always matter more than the picture.
That is exactly why I simply let the wolf continue on its way that morning.
Of course, I was overwhelmed. It was my first wolf in Germany and one of the most emotional moments I have experienced in nature so far. But I would never have tried to follow it further.
Some encounters do not need to be maximized.
Sometimes it is enough simply to have experienced them.
I will never forget that moment.
Especially when you first start wildlife photography, it is easy to approach many things rather naively. You get excited about every sighting and every photo, and sometimes you do not think enough about the impact humans can have on animals.
I have certainly made mistakes myself.
Today, ethical wildlife photography is extremely important to me.
For me, that means neither feeding wild animals nor pursuing them or causing them unnecessary stress—even if that means missing out on the more spectacular photograph.
Because in the end, the well-being of the animal should always matter more than the picture.
That is exactly why I simply let the wolf continue on its way that morning.
Of course, I was overwhelmed. It was my first wolf in Germany and one of the most emotional moments I have experienced in nature so far. But I would never have tried to follow it further.
Some encounters do not need to be maximized.
Sometimes it is enough simply to have experienced them.
I will never forget that moment.
Calm. Alert. And gone again after just a few seconds. But this moment remains.