The Belgian association of cattle and sheep farmers (VSH) has requested more subsidies for the construction of wolf-proof fences. They also want to acquire guard dogs.
Farmers currently receive 80% reimbursement of material costs, but not for labor hours and other expenses. In practice, this means reimbursement of 44 percent of all costs incurred. Looking over five years, it amounts to only 25 percent of the costs, according to André Calus, chairman of VSH.
Especially the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg have been facing an increasing number of wild wolves and fatal attacks on livestock in pastures in recent years. Last year, 74 farmers applied for subsidies to install wolf-proof fencing, compared to 55 applications in 2019, with the budget remaining unchanged.
Last year, in 66 registered attacks in Belgium, more than one hundred animals fell prey to wolves—more than double the previous year, when 51 dead animals were counted. All attacks took place in Limburg and Antwerp, with sheep (87) being the main victims. Other prey included fallow deer and (dwarf) goats.
Flemish Minister of Environment and Nature Zuhal Demir (N-VA) pointed out that in all cases, the killed animals were not adequately protected against wolves. The attacks occurred inside enclosures that were not wolfproof, the minister said.
Minister Demir foresees an increase in the subsidy in the coming period, possibly also for the purchase of guard dogs. Recently, a Belgian sheep farmer had positive experiences with this. To protect his flock, in addition to wolf-proof fences, he also acquired four special dogs: three large Spanish mastiffs and a Macedonian shepherd.
When a wolf approaches a sheep pasture, one dog barks to warn the other dogs. And if the wolf hears that the dogs are in majority, it retreats, as explained in Het Nieuwsblad. Minister Demir is willing to investigate these practical experiences to potentially subsidize the acquisition of protection dogs.