Livestock farming and wolves in France: history, situation appraisal and solution pathway

Abstract

Nowadays wolves are present on a regular or episodic basis in about a third of the country. Since 2008, yearly livestock killing due to wolves is growing linearly, and reached 12 000 in 2017. This figure accounts neither for missing animals nor indirect damage: stress, abortions, fertility drops, etc. Since 2004, France has, however, implemented a now widespread set of protective measures: reinforced human presence, protection dogs and electrified night pens. The failure is clear, public and private costs are exploding. Wolf recovery goes on into fragmented landscapes of cultivated or natural meadows, hedges, edges and forest undergrowth, where grazing livestock is an easy prey. But mostly, wolves are smart and opportunistic. As strictly protected species, wolves need no care that livestock could be associated with humans and humans with danger. Half of the attacks now take place during the daytime, notwithstanding dogs and humans being present. Countries where humans are allowed a quick active and prompt defence of their livestock, including lethal shooting, give evidence of wolves keeping their distance and damaging much less. Without local and targeted regulation of wolves becoming prone to prey on livestock, the livelihood of farming practicing grazing in France is deeply jeopardized.