What Volunteering With Wolves in Germany Is Really Like

There is something exciting about walking through a forest knowing that wolves are somewhere out there, even if you don’t see one. Suddenly, a set of paw prints or a piece of scat is no longer something you just walk past. It is evidence, and learning how to find and interpret that evidence is at the heart of Biosphere Expeditions’ Germany wolf project in Germany.

The expedition takes place in Lower Saxony, where wolves have returned after being absent from the region for centuries. Volunteers work alongside scientists to document wolf presence, movements and feeding ecology, contributing observations that form part of a much bigger picture of how wolves are living alongside people in Germany.

It is active, sometimes tiring, and there is no guarantee of seeing a wolf. What you do get is a week spent outdoors, learning how wildlife research actually works and contributing to it yourself.

So what is volunteering with wolves in Germany really like? In this article we’ll look at what past participants have experienced, from the excitement of finding wolf tracks to the reality of walking many kilometres through the German countryside.

What the Germany Wolf Expedition Actually Involves

The expedition takes place in Lower Saxony in northern Germany, primarily around the Lüneburg Heath and Wendland. This is a landscape of heathland, forests and wetlands where wolves have gradually re-established themselves after returning to the region in the early 2000s.

The aim is not simply to find wolves. Volunteers help gather data that can contribute to a better understanding of wolf numbers, movements and feeding ecology.

A typical survey as a volunteer can involve:

• Searching for wolf tracks and other signs of presence
• Looking for wolf scat
• Recording findings using GPS, cameras and digital data sheets
• Collecting scat samples for dietary and genetic analysis
• Surveying prey species such as deer and wild boar
• Learning how to distinguish wolf signs from those of other animals
• Contributing observations to the wider monitoring effort

The work is carried out in small teams, alongside an expedition leader and a local scientist. You do not need to be a biologist or have previous wildlife research experience. Training is provided before volunteers head into the field.

That last point is important. You aren’t expected to arrive knowing how to track a wolf. You learn by doing.

And that can be surprisingly exciting.

Sharon, who joined the expedition in 2025, described the moment she found wolf tracks:

‘It was so exciting to see wolf tracks and start following them. It made it all so much more real.’

That is perhaps the essence of this expedition. You are not simply being shown wildlife. You are learning how to find the traces it leaves behind.

What a Typical Day as a Wolf Volunteer Looks Like

There is no rigid itinerary on the Germany expedition. Activities are usually discussed the evening before and confirmed in the morning, taking weather, research priorities and the team’s abilities into account.

Teams of two or more volunteers head out on foot to survey an assigned area. The walking can cover around 10 to 20 kilometres in a day, although the relatively flat landscape and the slow pace required to search for wolf signs make it less demanding than the distance might initially suggest.

Rachel Heller, who joined the Germany expedition, was initially concerned about the amount of walking. In practice, she found that the flat terrain and slow pace made it manageable, even though she doesn’t consider herself particularly fit. She also found that the need to constantly scan the paths for wolf scat made the walking considerably slower than an ordinary hike.

The work requires attention. You are looking at the ground, checking tracks, watching for scat and recording anything that might help researchers understand what is happening in the area.

And sometimes, despite all that effort, you find very little.

Neil, who has taken part in several Biosphere Expeditions projects, puts it rather bluntly:

“Wolf scat is quite hard to find, based on my experience so far.”

That is field research in a nutshell. You go out looking for something, but nature does not necessarily cooperate.

Back at the expedition base in the late afternoon, teams log their findings and discuss the day’s work with the scientist and the rest of the group. The 2026 expedition diary describes these evening reviews as one of the highlights of the day, combining serious discussion of the scientific findings with presentations and stories from the different teams.

It is a rewarding rhythm: out in the field during the day, then back together in the evening to work out what everyone has found.

Will You Actually See a Wolf?

This is probably the first question many potential volunteers have.

The honest answer is: maybe, but don’t count on it.

Wolves are elusive, naturally wary of people and capable of moving through large areas without being noticed. The purpose of the expedition is therefore not to provide guaranteed wildlife sightings – this would be commercial tourism rather than serious citizen science. It is to collect evidence of wolf presence and behaviour.

Rachel wrote about her experiences as a volunteer on the Germany expedition and says she didn’t see a wild wolf herself. Instead, she learned how researchers can build a picture of a wolf population from much less dramatic evidence: pawprints, scat, GPS locations and genetic samples.

And that is an important part of understanding what this expedition is really about.

A wolf track in the mud may not sound as exciting as seeing a wolf standing on a forest path. But to someone learning how wildlife monitoring works, that track is evidence.

In 2026, expedition teams even investigated fresh signs after a local ranger reported that wolves had killed a red deer nearby. Volunteers found numerous fresh tracks and a possible kill site, although the carcass had disappeared and, frustratingly, there was no fresh scat to collect.

The wolves themselves remained hidden.

The evidence did not.

And occasionally, volunteers do get exceptionally lucky. A participant from an earlier expedition described seeing a fully grown wolf standing on a sandy track before it simply trotted back into the forest. Another group saw wolf pups playing.

Those moments are memorable precisely because they cannot be guaranteed.

The Parts People Don’t Expect

One of the biggest differences between this expedition and a commercial wildlife holiday is how much attention you start paying to things that you might normally walk straight past.

A track in the mud.

A pile of scat beside a forest path.

A deer moving through the trees.

The direction of a trail.

A subtle change in the landscape that suggests an animal has recently passed through.

Suddenly, the forest becomes full of clues.

The walking itself can be demanding, depending on your fitness and the weather. Ten to 20 kilometres a day sounds manageable on paper, but doing it while constantly searching for tiny signs of wildlife requires concentration as well as stamina. Rain can make things harder. Ben, who has taken part in 15 Biosphere Expeditions projects, described his final day in Germany as difficult because of the rain and distance, but ultimately ‘very rewarding.’

And then there is the fact that you are sharing all of this with people you have probably never met before.

The 2026 team included 12 people from the UK, Germany, the US, Thailand, Australia and the Netherlands, ranging in age from 17 to 70. Biosphere says there are no upper or lower age limits for the Germany expedition.

For many volunteers, that international mix becomes part of the experience.

In an interview Niki described the value of being with people from different countries who were all committed to caring for the environment. Sharon similarly said:

“You’re gonna meet like-minded people who all wanna do the same thing.”

That sense of shared purpose can make the expedition feel quite different from travelling independently. You are spending long days together, working towards the same research goal, then returning to base to compare what everyone has found.

What Is the Accommodation Like?

If you are imagining a week of sleeping in a tent in the middle of the German forest, the Germany expedition may come as a pleasant surprise.

The expedition base is a historic manor house hotel on the edge of the Lüneburg Heath. It has modern amenities, with single, twin and double rooms, all with en suite bathrooms.

That does not mean the expedition itself is luxurious. You will still be spending most of your days outside, walking through forests, heathland and wetlands in whatever weather the German summer brings.

But having a comfortable place to return to matters after a long day in the field.

The base also becomes an important part of the social side of the expedition. This is where teams meet for evening reviews, discuss their findings, eat together and get to know one another.

In other words, you get the wilderness experience without having to sleep in the wilderness.

What Past Volunteers Loved Most

When you look across the experiences of people who have joined the Germany expedition, several themes keep appearing.

One is the feeling of doing something useful.

Sharon said:

‘You really feel you are doing a worthwhile job.’

Neil described the expedition as “great” because he was contributing to science.

Karin similarly enjoyed being outside every day in wolf territory, looking for tracks and scat while contributing to research.

Another recurring theme is learning.

Jenan summed it up simply:

‘The best thing about the expedition is to learn about the wolves.’

Jacqueline also said she learned a lot, while enjoying the process of gathering data, discovering the area and seeing its wildlife.

And then there is the landscape itself.

Niki described walking through the German forests as one of the highlights of her week, while Karin mentioned the deer, raccoon dogs, birds and butterflies they encountered alongside the search for wolves.

Perhaps most interestingly, some people do not stop at one expedition.

Karin said she would definitely join another expedition somewhere in the future. Jana said, ‘I’m sure I will come back.’ And Ben’s 15th expedition suggests that for some participants, the experience becomes something they return to again and again.

Rachel noticed the same phenomenon when she joined the Germany project. She was surprised to discover several people who had participated in numerous expeditions, including one repeat participant who had reached his 19th. She found that purpose, learning, staying active, adventure and the opportunity to contribute to conservation were all part of the appeal.

Who Is This Wolf Expedition For?

The Germany wolf expedition is likely to suit you if you:

• Love wildlife and being outdoors
• Want to learn how wildlife research actually works
• Are interested in wolves and their return to Germany
• Enjoy walking and exploring natural landscapes
• Want to travel with a purpose
• Like meeting people from different countries and backgrounds
• Are curious about citizen science
• Don’t mind getting muddy, wet or tired
• Want to contribute to real field research rather than simply observe it

You do not need a scientific background or special qualifications. You do, however, need to be comfortable walking around 10 to 20 kilometres a day over generally flat but sometimes sandy terrain.

It may not be the right choice if you are looking for a conventional wildlife holiday, a relaxed sightseeing trip or guaranteed animal encounters.

The distinction is important.

You are not paying to have wildlife brought to you.

You are joining a team that goes looking for evidence.

Is Volunteering With Wolves in Germany Worth It?

For the right kind of traveller, the answer is yes.

Not necessarily because you will see a wolf.

You might. You might not.

The value comes from something less predictable: learning to see a landscape differently.

After a week of searching for tracks, scat and other signs, a forest path is no longer just a forest path. It becomes a place where you start asking questions. Who passed through here? How recently? What were they eating? Where are they moving? What does this tell us about the animals living alongside us?

And that is where the citizen science aspect becomes so important.

The data collected by volunteers do not exist in isolation. They become part of longer-term monitoring that helps researchers build a clearer picture of Germany’s wolf population. That matters particularly now, as wolves continue to expand their range and Germany faces difficult questions about how the species should be managed and how wolves and people can coexist.

This is not about pretending that one week in the forest can solve those much bigger challenges.

It is about contributing small, carefully collected pieces of evidence to a much larger picture.

And perhaps that is one of the most rewarding things about Biosphere Expeditions. You don’t simply visit a place and take something away from it. For a week or two, you become part of the work of understanding it.

If that sounds like the kind of travel you are looking for, you can find details of the next wolf conservation expedition in Germany, including dates, practical information and availability, on the Biosphere Expeditions website.

Also Read:

What Volunteering With Brown Bears in Sweden is Really Like

Volunteering Abroad For Wildlife Conservation: What Should You Expect

Author: Sanne Wesselman