{"id":692748,"date":"2025-09-30T03:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T00:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-can-we-keep-livestock-safe-as-wolves-return\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T03:35:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T00:35:10","slug":"how-can-we-keep-livestock-safe-as-wolves-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-can-we-keep-livestock-safe-as-wolves-return\/","title":{"rendered":"How can we keep livestock safe as wolves return?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Wolf-repelling fence for fields where cattle graze: an electric fence with five sturdy strands of wire is the design used here to prevent wolves from getting into the pastures. Credit: Jacek W\u00f3jcik
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Wolves had long been extinct in parts of Central Europe. Thanks to strict regulations to protect species, in recent decades they have become more widespread again. This brings new challenges: in many areas, protecting farm livestock is essential to prevent animals such as sheep, goats and cattle from being killed by hungry wolves.<\/p>\n

An international research team at the University of G\u00f6ttingen, Humboldt-University zu Berlin (HU), Dresden University of Technology<\/a> in Germany and KORA in Switzerland recently conducted a survey to find out how farmers feel about measures such as wolf\u2010repelling electric fences or guard dogs, and whether the availability of subsidies influences this.<\/p>\n

The survey showed that the willingness to protect livestock depends primarily on social<\/a> pressure. Financial support is associated with a greater willingness to use electric fences against wolves. The study is published<\/a> in the journal People and Nature<\/i>.<\/p>\n

In order to investigate perceptions and intentions regarding protecting their herds, the research team conducted an online survey in 2022 among farmers with grazing animals in Bavaria in Germany. The researchers evaluated the responses of 353 people using the “Theory of Planned Behavior.”<\/p>\n

This psychological theory maintains that whether someone does something or not depends primarily on how strongly the person is committed to it. Their intention is influenced by three factors: their own attitude (“Do I think it makes sense?”), social pressure (“What do the people around me think?”), and perceived control (“Am I able to do it?”).<\/p>\n

According to the survey results, the drivers behind farmers’ willingness to protect livestock vary depending on the measures. However, social pressure plays the most important role.<\/p>\n

“This means it is most important that farmers learn about examples of successful grazing in areas shared with wolves, and exchange knowledge and experiences with each other,” says Dr. Friederike Riesch at G\u00f6ttingen University’s Institute of Grassland Science<\/a>, who led the study.<\/p>\n

The study also shows that financial support can create additional incentives: in certain areas around the wolves’ territories, Bavaria promotes specially designed electric fences that deter wolves\u2014as well as dogs\u2014to protect the herds. In the survey, livestock owners in such areas were more willing to install fences. The intention to take action is highest among those whose grazing animals are located directly in wolf territory. This is because farmers must demonstrate they have installed basic protection in order to receive compensation payments for damage caused by wolves.<\/p>\n

“The results show that subsidies encourage farmers to take measures to protect their livestock. This means that it is advisable to extend the promotion of electric wolf\u2010repelling fences to the whole of Bavaria,” explains Dr. Malte M\u00f6ck, at the Agricultural and Food Policy Group at HU. According to the survey, however, the subsidy scheme has no influence on the intention to use guard dogs to protect grazing animals. The researchers conclude that the associated challenges cannot be solved with financial resources alone.<\/p>\n

In addition to networking and promotion, the researchers recommend offering practical support to protect livestock in order to reduce additional work. Such actions have the added benefit of promoting exchange between people with different perspectives, which can help to defuse conflicts about wolves and grazing.<\/p>\n

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More information:<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFriederike Riesch et al, How to reconcile pasture grazing and wolf recolonisation? Perceptions of management options by livestock farmers in Germany, People and Nature<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1002\/pan3.70141<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of G\u00f6ttingen
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCitation<\/strong>:
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow can we keep livestock safe as wolves return? (2025, September 29)
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 29 September 2025
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/news<\/a>\/2025-09-livestock-safe-wolves.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

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