Glarus reshapes wildlife with culls and shifting protected zones
The canton of Glarus has seen major changes in its wildlife management over the past two years. Authorities and hunters have carried out culls targeting wolves, cormorants and ungulates, while protected zones have been adjusted. These measures come as officials monitor shifts in animal populations and hunting practices across the region.
In 2023, Glarus applied to cull wolf pups from two resident packs—the Kärpf and Schilt—despite a drop in livestock attacks. That same year, an eight-square-kilometre stretch near Elm was removed from the Kärpf hunting ban, while an equal area in Chrauchtal valley gained protection. No further data exists on broader changes to protected zones, as records for Freiberg Kärpf remain unverified.
By 2024, game wardens and volunteer hunters had killed 169 animals within formerly protected ban zones. Recreational hunters also culled 1,304 ungulates across Glarus, contributing to a skewed sex ratio in the chamois population. The Glarus Hunting Association continues to gauge success purely by culling numbers. That year, the canton further ordered the culling of cormorants along the Linth Canal, citing their alleged role in the decline of grayling fish. Four cantonal wardens currently oversee all hunting and wildlife protection efforts in the region.
The culls and zone adjustments reflect Glarus's active approach to wildlife control. Ungulate numbers, wolf pack sizes and bird populations now face direct intervention, with hunting quotas serving as the primary benchmark. Officials maintain that these steps are necessary for balancing ecosystems and protecting local species.
