Update from our wolf volunteering Germany expedition
It’s hard to believe how quickly an expedition week can pass.
During our final two survey days on Thursday and Friday, we documented and collected 20+ wolf scat samples. This is what survey walks are all about: Walking and observing, noticing small things you would pass by otherwise and taking the time to investigate and identify the unknown. But most of all: Sharing your experience, encounters and pictures in the evening with your fellow expeditioners.
Forests full of life
Here are some of the things we detected out in the forest:
Stock taking and Stockbrot
After final scientific reviews we spent a lovely evening outside around the campfire. Combined with a beautiful sunset and “Stockbrot” – a traditional German break baked on a stick over the fire, we let the intensive week wind down. It was well into the summer night when the last of us went to bed.
Results of the week
To conclude the wolf expedition, Lotte presented us with a summary of the results from an intensive week of field research: A total of 45 wolf scat samples were documented in the official LJN monitoring database. Of those 45 samples, 39 will be submitted to dietary analysis and 6 (which were fresh enough) for genetic analysis. The teams covered a total distance of 348 kilometres on foot across various wolf territories and surveyed 17 grid cells, each measuring 10 x 10 kilometres. Just another powerful example of how successfully citizen scientists can contribute to scientific research.
Farewells
We said our good-byes on Saturday morning. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the project for yet another successful wolf monitoring week. A big thank you to the expeditioners for committing to this project. It wouldn’t happen without you! Thanks for being a great team, supporting each other and sharing your personal experiences. I’d also like to thank the Naturcampus staff for their warm welcome and making us feel at home. I hope you all enjoyed this week as much as Lotte, Theo and I did.
Safe travels back home or on your onward journey, I hope to see some of you again sometime, somewhere on this wonderful planet.
Read also: First I second I third entry of the wolf volunteering Germany expedition. All Germany 2026 diary entries on one page.
And: What Volunteering With Wolves in Germany is Really Like
Author: Malika Fettak
Malika Fettak is half Algerian, but was born and educated in Germany. She majored in Marketing & Communications and is a qualified Systemic Coach & Trainer and passionate team leader. She joined Biosphere Expeditions in 2008, ran the German-speaking operations and the German office for some years and has led expeditions all over the world. She cares deeply about nature, the outdoors and the diversity our planet has to offer. She has travelled extensively, is multilingual, a qualified off-road driver, diver and outdoor first aider. More about Malika.