Wolves in Saxony: increasing population and new challenges!

Wolves in Saxony: increasing population and new challenges!

Delitzsch, Deutschland - In Saxony, the wolf population continues to spread, as the recent results of the monitoring show. In 2023/2024, the expert report recorded a total of 37 wolf packs and six wolf pairs in the state, including seven packs in northern Saxony. Jan Schöne, specialist for beavers and Wolf at the Saxon Nature Conservation Association, illuminates the complex situation around the topic of wolf. Despite the growing number of wolves, 124 cracks were recorded this year, in which the wolf was clearly identified as the cause. There were twelve documented cracks in northern Saxony, including an incident in September when a wolf tore three sheep at Elsnig. Nevertheless, pet owners reported a sunken total number of cracks compared to the previous year.

monitoring and herd protection

The monitoring is carried out using genetic analyzes of fecal samples, which gives experts deeper insights into the behavior patterns of the animals. Beautiful points out that the observations show that most wolves, including the pack around Delitzsch, behave inconspicuously and do not attack farm animals. The wolves have been recorded since June 1, 2019 via the Wolf department in the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology, which is also responsible for herd protection advice. In order to prevent future cracks, the topic of herd protection is considered crucial. Manfred Wölfl, head of the specialist office, emphasizes the need for effective herd protection, in particular through the use of electrical fence.

In addition, the owners of sheep and goats must take suitable protective measures, since over half of the cracks are due to inadequate herd protection. The discussion about the protection status of the wolf and possible shooting measures continues to be conducted, since experts like beautiful believe that a quick action is necessary to regulate the situation. Despite these demands, herd protection remains the key to avoiding conflicts between humans and wolf. More information on the tasks of the Wolf and its advice can be found in the detailed publication of the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology here .

Comprehensive protection from well -constructed fences could significantly reduce the risk of a crack, according to Schöne, which underlines the importance of close interaction between different institutions for protecting herds. These results underline the ongoing challenge and complexity in dealing with the wolf population in Saxony and also show the need for further measures to protect veterinary stocks.

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