Wolf attacks on animals in Netherlands tripled in first quarter

Wolves are attacking sheep and other animals at an increasing rate. In the first three months of this year, there were 267 reports of wolf attacks on animals, compared to only 77 in 2023 during the same period. This is almost three times as many. In almost all cases, the landowners had no fence or barbed wire around their land or other preventive measures in place to prevent wolf damage.

This is evident from an analysis by the ANP based on data from BIJ12. ​​This organization handles wolf cases for the provinces.

Most of the attacks happened in Oostenllingwerf, a municipality in Friesland on the border with Drenthe. There have already been 39 reports of attacks in the area this year.

Generally, the wolf attacks mainly happen in municipalities in and around the Veluwe, like in Ede (27 times) and Elburg (22 times).

Gelderland reported more wolf attacks in the first three months of the year than in the whole of 2023. From January to March, 138 attacks occurred there, compared to 112 in 2023.

The number of attacks could be even higher in reality. It is not an obligation to report a wolf attack to BIJ12. Only attacks where it is certain that a wolf caused the damage have been noted.

Wolves attack more often because there are now more wolves in the Netherlands. “A year and a half ago, we counted 29 wolves in the country; last winter, we counted 51,” a spokesperson for BIJ12 said.

“We also see that not enough measures are being taken to prevent a wolf from inflicting damage.” Of the wolf attacks in the first three months of the year, at least nine in ten landowners had not taken any measures that BIJ12 would accept. Subsidies are available in several provinces to install preventive measures.

A dog disappeared in Leusden at the start of this month due to a suspected wolf attack. A week later, a girl was bit in the same area by a wolf. Incidents involving people and pets are not eligible for compensation and are therefore not included.