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Protection for grazing animals: Free seminar against wolf attacks in Mainhardt!
Free seminar on June 30th in Mainhardt: Protecting grazing animals from wolves. Register by June 16th!
Protection for grazing animals: Free seminar against wolf attacks in Mainhardt!
In the discussion about herd protection against wolves, an important seminar will take place in the Swabian-Franconian Forest on Monday, June 30, 2025. This seminar, which is organized by the Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park Organization, the Society for the Protection of Wolves and the Patura company, is aimed at grazing animal owners and focuses on the protection of grazing animals from possible wolf attacks. Given the fact that the wolf has so far only been registered as a transient in the Rems-Murr district, the possibility is being discussed that more wolves could appear in the greater Stuttgart area in the future. Attending the event is free, but the number of participants is limited to 30 people.
The seminar location will be the Demeter company Riegenhof in Mainhardt. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. and lasts until around 4 p.m. Meals are provided on your own, drinks are available on site. Registrations must be made by email by June 16th.
Wolves and their challenges for livestock farming
As nabu.de reports, wolves have become at home again in Germany and represent a challenge for livestock farming. They feed over 95% of wild animals such as deer, wild boars and stags. Unprotected grazing animals are much easier for wolves to prey on than their natural prey. Effective herd protection measures are therefore crucial to ensure the protection of farm animals. NABU calls for these measures to be supported across the board in order to better protect grazing animals.
One of the most important protective measures against wolves is electric fences. These fences must be carefully installed so that they reach the ground, as wolves tend to dig rather than jump. An optimal height for the first live strand is 20cm, while fences should be between 90cm and 120cm high to keep wolves out. In addition, additional measures such as electrified strands above the fence and wire netting to prevent undermining may be useful.
Important aspects of herd protection
Effective herd protection requires individual solutions that are tailored to each pasture area. It is also important to use livestock guard dogs, which can protect the herds from intruders. These dogs are territorial and need to be socialized by experienced owners. In addition, their training begins early so that they grow up with grazing animals and learn to ward off disturbances.
In addition, there are compensation payments for farmers affected by wolf attacks, but these must be checked by expert witnesses. With the aim of further improving support for agricultural businesses, the Federal Center for Pasture Animals and Wolves (BZWW) was set up in 2021 and is currently being set up. However, there are currently no uniform regulations to promote herd protection or to compensate for damage.
The upcoming event in Mainhardt could therefore be a crucial step towards how grazing livestock farmers can be better informed and equipped to deal with the challenges posed by the return of the wolf in Germany. Early registration is recommended for all interested parties.