Wolves Outsmarting Electric Fences in Saxony Forest
Bautzen, Saxony - As the population of around 350 wolves in Saxony flourishes, livestock farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the increasing number of sheep and thousands of deer they're taking down, as well as their newfound ability to leap over electric fences advised by authorities.
The cunning wolves are now practicing on fences erected to ward off African swine fever. These plague fences aim to halt infected wild boars and prevent the spread of the disease. Kilometer-long fences also run through wolf territories in Lusatia, forcing wolves to jump these barriers in their quest for food. Experts at the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture, and Geology have now acknowledged this.
Wolves Can't Be Tamed by Electric Fences
"If wolves don't encounter any negative experiences with non-electrified fences, they can learn to jump them. The current fences installed across the country to contain African swine fever, which cut through entire wolf territories, shouldn't be disregarded as training objects," said 60-year-old Karin Bernhard, a spokeswoman from the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture, and Geology.
It's like training a hurdler. While wolves don't mind electric barriers around flocks of sheep, they easily jump over them after their forest training. Since January, the 38 packs, four pairs, and two lone wolves living in Saxony have killed 436 sheep, goats, deer, and even a dog and a cow.
Last week, there were three brutal wolf attacks in Lomnitz, a tiny village near Radeberg, with a population of 938. They occurred on November 13, 16, and 18, striking at night. Metal farmer Ronny Wendt, who protected three sheep on his meadow orchard with a 90 cm high fence and 4000 volts of electricity, was also a victim.
"The fence and electricity were of no use at all. The wolves jumped over it, and they killed my three heather sheep, which cost 150 euros each. It's particularly painful that the valuable stud buck also perished," Wendt fumed.
In other words, the more frequently wolves encounter non-electrified fences, the better they get at jumping them. Research from the Association for Safety and Species Protection highlights that wolves can effortlessly leap two meters high. Unfortunately, the conventional 90 cm high willow nets and strand fences aren't enough, as wolves have been known to overcome four-meter high obstacles with solid fences in certain instances.
Insights from other Regions
In regions with high wolf populations, like the Carpathian Mountains, solar-powered electric fences are emerging as a promising solution for protecting farms and promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife. Farmers and beekeepers in this region have been educated on installing and maintaining these fences, paying special attention to technical aspects such as reliable grounding and the installation of lightning rods.
Notably, the implementation of these fences not only protects farms but also supports sustainable development and biodiversity preservation by reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife. While data on the effectiveness of these fences in Saxony, Germany, is scarce, the general principles and effectiveness of solar-powered electric fences in areas with high wolf populations cannot be ignored.
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