New developments in the wolf debate: The Federation for Nature Conservation is moving away from its categorical no to any shooting. Experts are now suggesting electric fences.
Munich – Loyal wolves already live in eleven regions in Bavaria. So animals that are constantly present. According to the monitoring report for 2022/2023, two packs, three pairs and a single wolf with a home in the Free State were identified in Bavaria. They are distributed from the Rhön to the Allgäu Alps.
There has been a heated debate in Bavaria for years about how to deal with wolves, which were previously strictly protected. The state government and parts of the agricultural sector are calling for the rapid removal of all animals, regardless of whether they have previously killed farm animals or whether they appear near urban or rural areas without any apparent fear. On the other hand, there are environmental and animal rights activists who emphasize that the conservation status of the species is not yet assured everywhere.
Wolves in Bavaria: BN moves away from a categorical no to shootings
Wolves continue to become a problem for farmers, as the number of animals killed or injured by wolves in Bavaria has increased in recent years. In 2022 there were 77. Although there is compensation and support for herd protection, the path to get there is not always easy. In Bavaria, not every expert is allowed to officially decide whether a wolf actually killed an animal.
With regard to the shooting of wolves, the Federal Nature Conservation Association is moving away from its categorical rejection of any shooting. In a new position paper, which is to be presented on Tuesday (April 16) in Munich, the association is shifting its pain threshold and, under certain conditions, agreeing to easier shooting in the area of mountain pastures and Alps.
“This means that we are opening up our previous position to some extent. But one thing is also clear: the general protection status of the wolf will not be shaken,” said the chairman of the association, Richard Mergner, to the German Press Agency in Munich. “Our lawsuit against the state government’s wolf regulations also remains unaffected.”
Last year, three shepherds from the Rhön submitted an application to remove wolves, which was approved by the government. It was the first time that wolves were officially allowed to be shot in Bavaria.
Experts suggest a 2,000-volt fence against wolves
At a conference of the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry Kitzingen-Würzburg (AELF) in Nüdlingen in the Bad Kissingen district, experts gave tips on protecting herds of horses and cattle. There was great interest in the first conference in Bavaria specifically for people who keep horses or cattle. According to BR, the 55 available places were quickly filled and many interested people ended up on the waiting list.
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A big topic is electric fences to protect against wolves. However, they only help with continuous operation and only under a constant voltage of 2,000 volts. “The wolf’s first contact with the fence has to be right,” explained fence expert Günter Herkert, according to BR. According to him, the best results in wolf defense can be achieved with professional operation. The state would cover most of the costs, but animal owners would first have to advance the money. There will be further conferences at the beginning of May, this time for sheep and goat farmers.
(tkip)