Harold Heuving from Amen is also considering quitting after a wolf attack two weeks ago. His sheep were visited by probably a wolf on January 14. “The lamb had been pulled out and was lying next to it. That was an intense sight to see.”
The grid was approved by the appraiser, according to the preliminary damage report, which is in the hands of RTV Drenthe. It seemed to the appraiser that it was the work of a wolf and there is yet another clue. “I captured the wolf on my wildlife camera, so it is clear to me that it is a wolf,” said Heuving.
Now Heuving is considering getting rid of his sheep. “It’s a nice hobby. I invest a lot of money and time in it. But I can’t keep sheep in this area like this.”
Moreover, the majority of the sheep in the pack’s habitat in the Drents Friese Wold are still unprotected. In 2022, only 15 percent of the sheep in this area were protected and in 2021 this was 8 percent, according to a count by wolf expert Hans Hasper.
The province does not want to provide the latest figure, although the data has already been provided by Hans Hasper. “We want to wait for Hans Hasper’s complete report, including an explanation. This must first be discussed internally. Then we can communicate about this,” says a spokesperson. While the figure stands alone and actually needs no explanation.
Animal keepers are obliged to protect their animals against wolves. Sheep farmers in Drenthe who do not install wolf-resistant fences receive compensation for dead sheep that have been caught by the wolf. In Germany, a sheep farmer who does not take wolf-resistant measures does not receive compensation for dead sheep.