The province of Drenthe must reintroduce red deer, for example in the Drents-Friese Wold. That says Mark Tuit, alderman in Hoogeveen for the PvdA. “It is a first step, a pebble in the pond,” says Tuit.
Last Sunday, a sheep farmer in Wapse was bitten by a wolf, after the animal had already bitten sheep to death. The wolf was later shot dead by order of mayor Rikus Jager van Westerveld. There, a number of nature organizations filed a complaint against Jager.
Eliminating the zero position is the solution, according to Chris Smit. Smit is a professor at the University of Groningen (RUG) and has conducted research into how we can keep the wolf out, but still preserve it. “In the Veluwe you can already see that red deer and boar ensure that fewer sheep are killed,” says Smit. “So it’s not a bad plan.”
“Farmers rightly complain that wolf attacks are a major problem. But European legislation prescribes that the wolf is heavily protected and we must comply with the law,” says Tuit, who, as alderman, has nature and landscape in his portfolio.
According to Tuit, a possible solution would be to release red deer, which are excellent prey for wolves. That would perhaps put an end to wolves’ attacks on sheep.
There is currently a stray red deer in Hart van Drenthe. “That is now tolerated and you may have to introduce more so that they can expand,” says Smit. The zero position is still maintained, which means that when a red deer is walking, it may be shot.
Smit believes that game management in Drenthe should be adapted to the wolf in any case. “Farmers will not necessarily be happy about it, but it would be good to allow the pigs back into Drenthe and they should ensure that they manage deer less.” According to Smit, the zero level has already been lifted in North Brabant and, according to him, they are already seeing that fewer sheep are being grabbed by a wolf.
Smit does warn not to leave game management entirely to the wolf. “You have to keep a close eye on it.”
According to alderman Tuit, it is currently mopping with the tap open if this is continued. “So we have to come up with other things to solve this puzzle. We know that one in three young red deer in the Veluwe is grabbed by a wolf. Drenthe is a great province for red deer. So releasing deer in the wild could very well be a part solve the puzzle.”
And according to Tuit, the red deer brings even more benefits. “The animal would be positive for the biodiversity in Drenthe and it is also attractive to tourists.”
Tuit was previously a national project leader at the Institute for Nature Education and Sustainability IVN Noord. In that capacity, he made a case for not shooting the red deer in 2020 when it suddenly walked around Drenthe.
Tuit wants to put his proposal on the table during the first contact that municipal administrators have with the new deputy for wolf affairs. That will happen in the fall.
The deputy for wolf affairs is Egbert van Dijk (BBB). He indicates that on his first working day he is busy with reading and working in and that he cannot respond to this until later.