The most famous wild canids is undeniably the wolf (Canis Lupus). He weighs between 30 and 45 kilos and averages 105 to 160 cm in length and 66 to 85 cm in height at the withers. Extirpated from our territory in 1890, wolves slowly re-colonized Switzerland from 1995 onwards, first as solitary individuals (mostly males, with only six females identified until 2010) and then, from 2012, as a pack. Today, thirty-two packs are established in our country, numbers hover around 300 individuals, representing the second of three known phases of the wolves return (recolonization, rapid growth and stabilization). The wolf population in Switzerland is of Italian origin (Canis Lupus Italicus), and has therefore returned mainly from Italy (Appenines, North) and eastern France.

Wolves are social animals, living in a pack (or commonly known as "family") composed mainly of the breeding pair, young from previous litters (yearlings, subadult from 1 to 3 years old) and this year's cubs. Their territory, known as their "home range", extends from 100 to 250 km2, and packs may overlap, move or hunt in part of each other's territory. Between the age of ten months and three years, young wolves make excursions into their pack's territory, or disperse in search of a free territory and partner, in order to found a new pack and perpetuate the species - it is what we call a natural cycle.  They can then cover impressive distances, varying from hundreds to thousands of kilometers. The absolute record is held by a wolf born in the Carpathians (Romania) who established his pack in Spain, a journey of almost 3,000 km. This ability to disperse means that all territories currently free of wolves, whether as a result of regulatory shootings or because the canid has not yet succeeded, are destined to be recolonized, ever more rapidly.

The wolves' menu consists mainly of deer and ungulates, but can also include lagomorphs, rodents, birds, amphibians, reptiles and any other accessible prey. As we all know, they also attacks livestock, mainly sheep/goats and, in the case of less than four-five packs in Switzerland, cattle and calves.

Predation on livestock is what gives wolves such a bad reputation, since they can "overkill" or divert protection measures (not always existing or fully and adequately implemented) thanks to their great intelligence, opportunism and adaptability. As apex-predators, they have all the characteristics needed to predate on all types of prey, from the five-kilo hare to the two-hundred-kilo stag. On average, they need approximately four to five kg of meat a day, but they can fast for several days without any problem. Or commit the famous overkill, driven by instinct. 

Anyone who has studied wolves knows how vast and complex the subject is, touching on many other areas as well. As we learn more and more about this predator, we realize that nothing about nature and the living world is linear; everything is constantly evolving. Knowledge of the behavior and functioning of animals, whatever the species, will never be fully mastered, and it's vital to recognize and integrate this.

Descended from the wolf and domesticated over 30,000 years ago, according to the latest studies, the dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris) is our best friend, ranking second only to the cat as man's favorite pet. At the end of 2023, there were 553,452 dogs in Switzerland and 6 millions in France. Their appearance varies : according to the "Fédération Cynologique Internationale" (FCI), there are 356 breeds of dog in the world, the smallest weighing 500g and the largest 90 kg. Today, his diet varies between wolf-like diets (RAW and BARF, mostly raw meat) and commercial kibbles (dry food), what most dog meals in Switzerland consist of. Although dogs no longer predate for food, they still possess a predatory instinct, which varies from one individual to another. Every year in Switzerland, according to official hunting statistics, between 500 and 700 wild animals are killed by dogs. These incidents take place during walks or are due to left free and unsupervised dogs. There have also been attacks on livestock, with bites requiring medical attention and sometimes leading to death (around 30-40 sheep the year).

Our love for dogs is undeniable, but it's also fair to point out that over the decades, humans have carried out a great deal of genetic manipulation and cross-breeding on domestic canines. The goals were to obtain various physical criteria (hair color/length, size differences, shape and position of ears/tail, etc.) as well as increasing ou decreasing certain instincts, behaviors or character traits. Human wants to be able to choose according to his tastes, his "needs" when it comes to physical criteria. And, through behavioral or instinctive modifications, his desire is to be able to work with the canine, to use it in different professional or leisure fields (hunting, herd protection/gathering, rescue, helping disabled people, searching for differences in substances, etc.).

But the truth is that today, for many breeds, the dog is no more than a shadow of the wolf. Even if, genetically, the wolf's DNA is still present in our companion, its instincts have been fairly blunted, sometimes even erased. The domestic canid also bears the physical scars of human whims. More than 600 genetic diseases have been recorded in purebred dogs, which is quite alarming. There are also malformations such as sunken hips (causing large-scale dysplasia, e.g. in the German Shepherd), nasal flattening (brachycephalic breeds such as the French Bulldog, Pug etc.), deafness/blindness when "mating" between two individuals carrying the "merle" gene (Australian Shepherd) and, over the last 10-20 years, an emergence of digestive and allergic disorders. At the behavioral level, genetic manipulation and cross-breeding have also led to the emergence of defects or amplified certain behavioral aspects (hyperactivity, depression or self-mutilation). In this dossier, you'll discover the extent of the "evil" : our lack of understanding of how dogs work, our inability to understand and respect their needs, and the error of applying our human reasoning to assessing canines. Unfortunately, this often leads to behavioral problems, incidents and even abandonment, as owners find themselves overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Physical changes also affect communication between individuals. For example, the wrinkled forehead (boxer, sharpei, pug, bulldog) or the ridge on the back, typical of the Rhodesian Ridgeback, which are signs of threat in dogs, or the flattening of the muzzle, leading to the famous "obstructive respiratory syndrome of brachycephalic breeds" (ORBS). These changes lead to communication and comprehension problems, which sometimes result in these breeds becoming victims of aggression, without their owners being able to understand the reasons why. Canines communicate through vocalizations and markings, as well as mimics and postures. Certain calming signals, which dogs use to communicate "non-conflict", to appease others and themselves, are now impractical for certain breeds. This can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations when dogs of different breeds meet (or when they meet wild canines), and to an increase in intraspecific conflicts.

Yes, canids, including dogs, can inflict bites or death on their fellow creatures, on other animal species and even on humans. They are governed by instincts that lead to immediate reactions that cannot be controlled or modified. Even today, this fact is often overlooked or ignored, especially when it comes to dogs. In fact, we've turned them into life-long companions, present in over 460'000 Swiss households today. We leave them with our children, take them everywhere in public places, to friends' homes and so on. The notion of "danger" is therefore downplayed or even ignored by many, which is detrimental to both humans (attacks, bites) and dogs (lack of understanding of their instincts/behaviors/codes and needs), as well as to wildlife (attacks, death).

In Switzerland today, there are no specific criteria or conditions to own a dog, with the exception of practical courses (dog training), which are compulsory in some cantons (states). But let's be honest : this is far from enough to really understand your companion and how he works, and has unfortunately led to a highly negative form of anthropomorphism over the past decade or two. In the chapter entitled "The dog, true innocent or forgotten culprit", we'll be taking a closer look at the circumstances that lead, in the vast majority of cases, to attacks/bites on humans. Because, contrary to what many might believe, the culprit is not, for the most part, who you think it is...

The third of the four canids living in our country is the fox (Vulpes Vulpes). He weighs between 2.2 and 14 kg and averages 58 to 90 cm in length, with a height at the withers of 35 to 40 cm. The tail measures between 32 and 49 cm. With his reddish coat and curious eyes, the fox is considered the most cunning and intelligent canid in Switzerland, along with the dog. Foxes usually live in pairs, with the young of the year. However, their lifestyle varies throughout their life, from solitary individuals to small groups of 4-6 adults. Their social life depends on the season, the habitat and the food available. Their numbers are not really known, but given that there are an estimated 25,000 foxes in Valais, we can easily estimate that its population numbers in the hundreds of thousands in Switzerland. Their diet consists of rodents, lagomorphs, birds, eggs and insects, and they also are scavengers.

As a good canine, foxes are also present in many different environments, from forests to towns, mountains and plains. We often come across them, day and night, hunting voles and sometimes attacking hens and other small farm animals. They may even attack a newborn lamb, as they are opportunists too. Like wolves, if they find themselves in a chickenhouse, where the hens are trapped, they will also trigger the famous "Surplus Killing Instinct", which we'll talk about in the chapter on "Wolf attacks on human". For a long time, foxes were (and still are in some countries) considered a "nuisance" species, which is a 100% anthropomorphic and totally erroneous notion.

Foxes are indispensable to the maintenance of a balanced ecosystem, as they effectively eliminate many rodent species which, in the absence of natural predators, multiply, cause serious damage and can transmit diseases that are potentially fatal to humans (zoonoses). The latest scientific studies show that foxes limit the number of ticks and thus the transmission of Lyme disease. They can be hunted in Switzerland, and around 20,000 are taken each year. They pse virtually no threat to humans, although there have been rare reports of bites, as the canine sometimes becomes too trusting, often after being fed by humans. But these cases are insignificant so there is no danger, since Switzerland is currently free of the deadly rabies disease.

The fourth and last canid in Switzerland is the golden jackal (Canis Aureus). He weighs between 6 and 14 kg and measures 71 to 85 cm in length for males and 69 to 73 cm for females. His height at the withers is 45 to 50 cm. He looks like wolves, but differs in size (smaller), longer torso, less prominent forehead, shorter legs and tail, and narrower, pointed muzzle. His diet is very varied, ranging from mammals, birds and reptiles to fish, crustaceans, invertebrates, fruit, young plant shoots and so on.

Golden chacals also live in family units, with a couple and their young. They have the same adaptability as their cousin "Canis lupus", and can live in a wide variety of environments, from wide open spaces to arid conditions. But unlike wolves, they tends to hunt alone or in pairs, but not in packs. They're no exception to canids law : they are also great opportunists. Their presence is still low in Switzerland, with only thirty-five sightings, eight of which are considered reliable.

On a European scale, there are around 100,000 individuals, mainly in Eastern Europe, in countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. This canid is therefore very discreet for the time being, having not yet come to the fore either in terms of attacks on farm animals (only one recorded to date in Switzerland) or in terms of any conflict with human. Golden chacal does, however, retain the same instincts as the other three, which should be borne in mind.