Agricultural organization calls for limiting the wolf population in the Netherlands

Agricultural organization LTO Noord believes that the number of wolves in the Netherlands is increasing too quickly and that regulation of the population is urgently needed. "We have to look at each area to see if there are too many wolves, and if that is the case, shooting should be possible," says Dirk Bruins, chairman of LTO Noord.

Bruins calls it "very sad" that the number of wolf attacks on livestock and other animals continues to increase. In the first six months of 2024, 360 attacks on animals were registered, compared to 399 in the whole of last year, according to an ANP analysis based on data from BIJ12. ​​This organization handles wolf cases for the provinces.

"Every day, I see images of livestock being abused by wolves. It's not just sheep, cattle and horses are also attacked by wolves." Bruins says he is "incredibly angry" about reports that livestock and hobby farmers have to install more fences and take other measures to protect their animals.

"The fact that more animals are being attacked is a direct result of the increase in the number of wolves in the Netherlands. It is going very fast. At some point, the limit is reached. The Netherlands is very densely populated and we do not have extensive nature reserves," says Bruins. "We should not wait too long to regulate because then it is too late. Just look at the crayfish plague. It is also said that we should have tackled the problem earlier."

According to Harold Zoet, Deputy for Nature in Gelderland, a balance is needed to manage the province's growing wolf population. This means that containment measures are inevitable. "To give the wolf a place in the Netherlands, we should not only look at what is beneficial for the wolf but also take into account a good balance in nature and social support. That is why we want to set limits for the wolf in Gelderland," he said in a statement.

Wolf expert Dick Klees does not believe that regulating the wolf population can prevent wolves from making many victims among livestock. Klees says that it is often individual wolves that attack sheep in particular. "Those sheep are in a closed pasture and therefore cannot escape. This triggers a wolf and continues to kill sheep." Klees states that sheep and other animals can be well protected with wolf-resistant fences and that wolves can be taught not to climb over or crawl under these fences. "You can do that by electrifying the fences."

Gelderland advocates new and strong European policy for wolves

The province of Gelderland wants a new and solid European policy for the wolf in the short term. The wolf currently has a 'strictly protected status' in the EU, but according to the province, it is 'unavoidable' to regulate the number of wolves.

"Due to the increasing number of wolves and the fact that they are getting more used to the busy environment in the Netherlands, you see that there are more and more wolf-human confrontations," says Gelderland. The province also sees a connection between the growth of the wolf population and the increase in the number of attacks on sheep and other animals.

The increase in wolf attacks is mainly in the northeastern provinces, especially in Gelderland. That province now has 50 more confirmed attacks than in 2023.

"The increase in the number of wolf attacks does not surprise us," the province states. "Due to the increase in the number of wolves in Gelderland, the pressure is increasing, and the number of attacks is increasing. In Gelderland, livestock farmers have used the entire budget of 1.2 million euros in four months to install wolf-resistant fences, and we as a province have made 2 million available early."

Despite the protective measures, the province reports that there are still occasional wolf attacks in places where wolf-proof fences are placed. "Good fences stop many attacks, but never 100 percent."