Eight times a wolf overcame a mobile and approved wolf-resistant fence with wires and killed several sheep. That was reason for the province to investigate whether you are allowed to shoot in such a case. But that is not that easy, says Sander Crasborn, wildlife management advisor, who also advises judges on management issues.
“It is one pack that does this on one specific grid. Then it may first be necessary to look at whether other measures are possible, such as a different way of fencing or a different type of grid. You will have to do more to demonstrate that protection with grids is not possible before you can start shooting.”
Shootings can even lead to more attacks on livestock, if, for example, one of the parents is shot, Crasborn says. “Wolves have a particularly complex social structure. Once a wolf has settled in an area, such a pack keeps this area somewhat free of wandering wolves. And if you start shooting in a pack, it can fall apart. Then There will be more space for roaming wolves and that generally means more damage to farm animals.”
Crasborn also points out that a pack does not necessarily need more prey or take more sheep than a single wolf. “Whether you have one wolf or five wolves: they kill a deer. A pack then eats more of the animal than a single wolf and often does not return to the same place.”
Killing the wrong wolf can also result in more young. “Because if the male is shot out, a new stray can cover the mother and daughter so that more young will come,” says Crasborn.
“These are all things we want to find out. How this works in such a population. I know of various studies and we are going to list them all to know what we can now do in Drenthe,” responds deputy Egbert van Dijk .
Ultimately, Drenthe wants to become a wolf-free region. “That is stated in the coalition agreement. That is a long road that will take years and this is a first step,” said Van Dijk.
Crasborn knows of no examples in Europe where the zero position is used. “Population reduction and tackling problem wolves. For example, in Austria they take some wolves out of the population. The reasoning there is that the cows that are needed to graze alpine meadows cannot be protected with grids. Because of the importance of those alpine meadows for the biodiversity is being intervened there. But this requires very good substantiation.”
The northern part of Sweden is also kept free of wolves, because the local population here depends on reindeer.
According to Crasborn, the question is also who should do it. Recognizing a specific wolf from a distance in the dark is not that easy. “I would not put it on the hunter to carry out this without pay. You should leave this to professionals. It will have to be a select club of very skilled performers.”