BOLOGNA — A wolf has been sighted roaming the Bologna hills around Villa Ghigi park, prompting the City Council to issue a public safety ordinance, officials announced on Wednesday.
Recent days have seen numerous reports and sightings of a wolf in the Bologna hilly, wooded area on the city’s outskirts. The sightings include videos and accounts shared by residents in local chats and on social media.
To address the situation, Mayor Matteo Lepore signed an ordinance aimed at preventing unwanted encounters between people, pets, and the wild animal.
The ordinance states that people who visit the hillside areas are:
- “prohibited … from depositing waste and food, which may attract wolves, outside designated containers.”
- Required to keep dogs on a leash while in open areas.
- Forbidden from feeding pets in unprotected outdoor spaces or outside of homes.
Local authorities stressed the measures intend both to protect residents and their animals, and to safeguard the wolf by discouraging it from associating people with food sources.
If residents spot the wolf, the ordinance instructs them to contact the Carabinieri Forestali or the local police of the Metropolitan City of Bologna.
The Parco di Villa Ghigi area, known for its natural landscape and walking paths on the first hill slopes south of the city, has become a hub for nature lovers and outdoor activity. The park spans about 28 hectares and is a familiar green space for Bolognesi who walk, cycle, and explore its trails.
