In Bavarian folklore of the Early Modern period, a Wolfssegen ([vɔlfs.ˈzeːɡn̩]; also Wolfsegen, Wolf-Segen) was an apotropaic charm against wolves; conversely, a Wolfbann (Wolf-Bann) was a malevolent spell causing a wolf attack.
The Wolfssegen is just one specific example of various distinct kinds of Segen ("blessing; charm, incantation") in the folklore of German-speaking Europe.
This corresponds to the cold period known as the Little Ice Age, for which there is ample historical evidence of wolf populations in much of the Bavarian Alps.
[3] The Wolfssegner, or more generally Segner, were mostly destitute elderly men who made a living by selling charms or incantations.
He claimed to be able to call the wolves to attack a specific head of cattle, and to have done this a total number of ten times over a period of 40 years.