840 wolf attacks on livestock last year; 90% of affected farmers didn't have fencing

The number of wolf attacks on sheep and other livestock in the Netherlands increased significantly last year. Up to and including October, over 840 such attacks were recorded, breaking the record of 770 attacks in all of 2024, according to an ANP analysis of data from BIJ12, an organization that handles wolf cases for the provinces. 90 percent of affected farmers did not have properly installed fencing to prevent wolf attacks.

The figures for November are not yet complete, but 48 reports have already been confirmed as wolf-inflicted, bringing the total to 888. The total for 2025 will likely increase further. There are 212 reports of suspected wolf damage from November and December that have not yet been confirmed.

Over half of the wolf attacks occurred in Gelderland. In 2025, wolves struck in the province at least 434 times, compared to 403 attacks in all of 2024. 92 reports in the province are still under investigation.

For the first time since 2019, no suspected wolf damage was reported in Zeeland last year.

In many provinces, livestock farmers can apply for subsidies to protect their animals from wolves. The funds can be used to install fencing. Properly installed fencing, preventing wovles from passing through, under, or over, significantly reduces the risk of an attack. Data from BIJ12 shows that almost 90 percent of affected farmers had insufficient preventive measures in place to prevent wolf damage. In only 66 of the attacks did the farmer have properly installed fencing.

Farmers are not required to report a suspected wolf attack to BIJ12. ​​Furthermore, only attacks in which it has been established with certainty that a wolf caused the damage are included in the count. Therefore, the actual number of attacks may be even higher.