Wolf Watching Holidays in Rural Spain

Wolf watching holidays in rural northwestern Spain take wildlife enthusiasts to the heartland of the Iberian Wolf, a subspecies of the Grey Wolf. The population in the mountains of Cordillera Cantabrica and its outlying range has seen a marked recovery in the past four decades; guided by expert naturalists, the chance of a wild sighting here is very high. Other wonderful bird and mammal species are regularly sighted in the region, including the Great Bustard — in groups of up to 500 — and the Otter, Red Deer, Roe Deer and Wild Boar.

The Iberian Wolf

The population of the Iberian Wolf reached an alarming low of only 500 individuals in the 1970s. In the decades since then, it has grown to approximately 2,500 to 3,000, with the majority of the population found in the Cordillera Cantabrica - this is good news for wildlife enthusiasts. The revival is largely a consequence of widespread rural depopulation, as Spanish people have moved in increasing numbers to cities. The sparsely populated rural regions give the animal room to thrive. Also beneficial is a change in people’s attitude, whereas previously they used to be viciously persecuted.

This subspecies is distinguished by a slighter frame, white marks on its upper lips, dark marks on the tail and on its front legs; the latter are the origin of its subspecies name, Signatus, which means ‘marked’. These are details to look out for in any close sightings on Wolf watching holidays. It is believed that the subspecies diverged during an Ice Age, when glaciers cut off the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe.

The Region

An ideal region of the Cordillera Cantabrica for Wolf watching holidays falls in the province of Zamora. There, low-lying hills and wide valleys covered with mixed forest and open heathland make it a pleasurable and often successful experience. The land is accessible through roads and forest tracks, with the open places making it possible to scan large areas for a sighting. A well-led holiday can offer a sighting rate of 90%.

Many other mammal species, as well as a wide range of birdlife, inhabit this part of Spain, and they make Wolf watching holidays a well-rounded wildlife experience. Wild Boar are always an exciting sight for people from parts of Europe, where they are no longer seen in the wild. Bird watchers will be particularly pleased by the species they can spot, which include Crested Larks, Southern Grey Shrikes, Spotless Starlings, Black Redstarts, Serins, Rock Sparrows, Rock Buntings and Cirl Buntings — signature species of southern Europe. Other bird species include Red Kites, Hen Harriers, Firecrests, Coal and Crested Tits, and even the possibility of a Golden Eagle.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for wolf watching holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to Jaguar watching tours in some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.