Protected area suitability for wolf reproduction during the comeback of wolves in Germany

As native apex predators in Germany and strictly protected since 1982, wolves have been recolonising the country since 2000. With a consistent increase in number of wolf territories, identifying factors affecting site selection for wolf reproduction is crucial to better inform conservation practices and take pre-emptive action to avoid human-wildlife conflicts. In this study we compare sites of wolf occurrence with sites of wolf reproduction. Using generalized linear models our results show that protected area presence significantly affects site selection for wolf reproduction, while protected area size and protection category do not have a significant effect on site selection for reproduction. This suggest that while protected areas do play a role in facilitating wolf reproduction in Germany, it is unclear in which ways protected areas foster reproduction among wolves. Further biogeographical analyses including aspects of the landscape such as forest cover and human disturbance might shed light on our understanding about wolf reproduction and population growth in Germany.