So, dog or wolf in the video, you might ask? In the second extract below, by observing the canid, it is possible to note behaviors that are very telling to identify it: frequent sniffing the ground, rummaging, changes of direction, postures, etc. And for the experts, there is also a very basic but visible physical sign that cannot be mistaken. You got, the conclusion is clear: it is not a wolf! Without knowledge of ethology and/or with pressure to shoot quickly enough (in view of the risk that the animal will take cover or leave the shooting range), it is clear that a shooting error could have occurred in this particular case. And a dog, which probably escaped in the previous hours, could have lost its life!
It is vital, from now on, to include ethological training, explaining in a clear and in-depth manner, the behavior of wolves within packs but also the existing differences between dogs and wolves. It must be provided by a person trained in the ethology of wild and domestic canids. In addition to the protection dog that was shot, we can also mention the five adult wolves that were shot, two of them by hunters, between September 1 and October 31 in Valais, which was completely contrary to the requirements of the Federal Office for the Environment (OFEV). In fact, the latter had explicitly requested in a letter written to the cantons that only cubs be shot during the first two months of regulation. We also mention the case of the Graubünden state ranger, who shot three lynxes (bobcats), one adult male and two cubs, thinking he was dealing with a pack. However, it is difficult to confuse a wolf and a lynx, even in the heat of the moment, whether in terms of appearance or behavior. This shows that the training provided is clearly insufficient and needs to be reinforced to avoid shooting errors.
As for the wolf, three of the five adult individuals shot before October 31, 2024 belonged to the same pack, that of the Augstbord! Given that genetics could not speak over such a short period of time (1 month), the adults could have been members of the breeding pair! The case of wolf cubs being left alone at that age, when they are just starting their hunting training, is highly contentious and even reprehensible because the consequences can be fatal.
Any shooting error therefore has potentially serious consequences. The death of a guard dog is very detrimental for the breeder, as the dog cannot be replaced for months or even longer. This weakens the protection of the herd, which is damaging over a more or less long period. The death of a domestic dog is heartbreaking for the owner, a suffering for those considering their four-legged companion to be a member of the family and to whom they are deeply attached. In both cases, no financial compensation or arrangement can replace the years of work, training and everything else that the dog represented. As for the lynx, it is also problematic since it is a protected species, which can only be hunted with a permit, and then only in very specific circumstances. In some regions, where there are still few lynxes, the disappearance of young animals has an even more negative impact on their establishment.
This is why, if cantons (states) want to be able to include hunters or auxiliaries, ethological training must be provided! All shooters must learn everything related to the functioning of the wolf and packs and know how to differentiate between the behavior of individuals and between dogs and wolves.
We would like to point out that no scientific study has ever been able to prove the effectiveness of preventive regulation or arbitrary hunting (high quotas) on livestock attacks. The one published by Oskana Grente in 2022, based on 9 French mountain ranges, showed that attacks remained the same or increased in 6 out of 9 ranges. The effects will, like everything to do with nature, be short-lived! It should be noted that France regulates nearly 20% of its wolf population every year. The culling of breeding pairs, of adults at sensitive times or even of stable, unproblematic packs could therefore have more negative than positive consequences.
We hope that the cantons (states), some of which are already very aware of the issues and open to dialogue, will understand the need to proceed in the most professional and scientific manner possible, including in training. And this for as long as the ordinance remains as it is.
Article: TML - Wolf Mission
Videos: Wolf Mission
Photo : Depositphoto
