October brought encouraging developments for wildlife conservation in Spain, alongside fresh evidence of the pressures facing many species. In Andalucía, a breeding programme produced the first Andalusian buttonquail chicks, while researchers published important findings about pollinators, butterflies and the effects of drought on wildlife in Doñana.
There was also difficult news. An Iberian lynx was found shot dead in Castilla y León, environmental organisations raised concerns about declining bird populations in the Ebro Delta, and new research suggested that wildlife deaths on roads may be far higher than official figures indicate. Meanwhile, the debate over wolf management continued in northern Spain, with new culling figures and further legal challenges to regional control programmes.
Here are some of the most interesting wildlife and conservation stories reported across Spain during October 2026.
Wolf control continues in northern Spain as legal challenges mount
The debate over the management of Iberian wolves has continued across northern Spain, with regional authorities carrying out lethal control programmes while conservation organisations challenge their legality in the courts.
Clive Muir – Wildside Holidays – Walking, wildlife and culture holidays in Spain
I’ve been living in western Andalucía for more than 20 years and spend much of my time researching and running English-language travel websites about Spain. My work covers destinations including Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema and the Caminito del Rey, as well as Wildside Holidays, which focuses on walking, wildlife and nature travel in Spain.
Through Wildside Holidays, I share practical information about Spain’s natural parks, mountains, wildlife and walking destinations, drawing on many years of living and travelling in the country. The aim is to help visitors discover Spain’s natural landscapes responsibly and plan rewarding walking and wildlife experiences.
