Killing wolves in France is ‘counterproductive’ amid livestock attacks, say experts

The government should not allow farmers to kill wolves that target livestock, wolf experts say, amid a number of sightings and attacks in north-west France since the start of the year.

The departments of Mayenne, Manche and Orne have confirmed wolf sightings and attacks on sheep. It is the first time the species has been spotted in Manche and Orne since its reintroduction to France three decades ago.

The grey wolf had died out during the 1930s before starting to recolonise from Italy in the early 1990s, starting in the Alps. Today, there are just over 1,000 wolves in France, according to the French Office for Biodiversity, but populations are stagnating after a steady increase over the past decade.

Since 2020, the government has authorised the killing of 19% of the wolf population to protect livestock. But wolf experts question this method.

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“Shooting wolves is ineffective and even counterproductive,” said Annie Moreau of FERUS, the National Association for the Defence and Safeguarding of Large Predators. “The wolf is a social animal, and functions on the basis of learning: the adults pass on their ‘knowledge’ to the young. If a wolf approaches a herd and is repelled by dogs, or is frightened away by scare systems, it will indicate to the rest of the pack that this is an area to be avoided. If it is killed, it will obviously not be able to pass on any lessons.”

“Killing a wolf only postpones the ‘problem’, as another one could potentially return, so it’s better to put protection measures in place.”

Ms Moreau said FERUS understands the “legitimate concerns of affected farmers” but suggests alternative protection measures including guard dogs, high voltage electric fences and security guards, which would “considerably reduce the risk of attacks”. Many local authorities are offering farmers financial help to put in place such measures.

But some farmers argue killing wolves is necessary to protect their livestock.

During a meeting of the National Wolf Group, which aims to balance efforts to protect both wolves and livestock, in late 2024, eight councils from the Alps questioned wolf counting methods, calling for a recount and a rise in the number of wolves that could be killed.

They said the estimate that there are 1,013 wolves in France “does not reflect the reality of the lupine presence and the progressive worsening of its effects” and called for a “significant increase” in the number of wolves that could be shot in 2025, currently set at 192.

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Encouraging coexistence between farmers and 'large predators'

FERUS has run an eco-volunteer programme in the Alps and Jura since 1999 that has seen “considerable success” and aims to establish itself as “a pillar of harmonious coexistence between farmers and large predators”.

The programme helped 24 farmers in the Alps in 2024, with almost 100 volunteers carrying out over 1,000 days and nights of surveillance, including regular patrols. This meant just two animals were lost. The association plans to roll out similar programmes in Brittany and the Lot.

It is unclear if the wolf spotted in north-west France is a lone wolf or several different animals, but Ms Moreau said the expansion should not be of concern.

“This is a normal part of the expansion of this species. When the young become adults, they leave their family unit in search of a new territory in which to settle and create their own pack. To do this, they may travel dozens or even hundreds of kilometres.”

And what if walkers come face-to-face with a wolf? “The wolf is an animal that is very wary of humans and will not come towards us. Encounters with wolves are rare in France – the wolf is not a danger to us.”