Using a combination of protection measures is the most effective way of preventing wolf damage
Electric fences are a familiar and effective way to protect domestic animals from wolves and other large carnivores. However, their erection takes time. The LIFE BOREALWOLF project aims to introduce new protective methods to Finland and test them under domestic conditions.
Domestic animals are at risk of being attacked by wolves in wolf regions. Fortunately, there are several different methods of protecting livestock available. When properly erected and maintained, electric fences provide a highly effective way to protect animals.
“In addition to fences, there are several other methods in use around the world that could be tested and applied in Finland,” says Jani Pellikka, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Pellikka has investigated how the effectiveness of different protective methods has been studied in Europe and the United States and which methods have proved to be useful. The LIFE BOREALWOLF project aims to introduce some of these methods to Finland and test them under domestic conditions.
There is a demand for quick fixes
When the risk of losses is high, swift action is important. In the event of damage or near-losses in the vicinity of the farm, it is necessary to provide temporary and easy-to-erect protection for the animals as it takes time to acquire materials for a robust fence and to put it up. The first step is to contact the regional office of the Finnish Wildlife Agency that coordinates anti-predator fences in the area. You should also contact your own producer organisation and keep it informed of the situation.
“According to the tests, an effective temporary aid is a streamer line set up in front of an existing electric fence. The line should have narrow plastic streamers of 50 cm in length that reach close to the ground,” says Pellikka. If the situation permits, another way of avoiding losses while a fence is being erected is to keep the animals indoors, especially overnight.
The impact of wolf hunting on the number of animal losses has been studied to some extent in the United States. The types of traps that are most often used in hunting in the US are prohibited in Finland. The effects of the removal depend on how effectively and quickly the individual causing the damage can be located and removed. However, the conditions for a swift and targeted hunt are poor, especially during summer time.
In the US, various banishing devices that use noise, lights or movement to scare the wolves have also been tested. Even fitting wolves with electric shock collars has been tried. In Southern Europe, livestock guardian dogs are often used to protect farm animals. This could also be a viable solution in Finland in some situations.
Farmers receive support for the protection of domestic animals
All the methods investigated have been found to be useful. The solution that provides the best protection depends on the type of production and terrain of the farm. The wider the range of methods used, the better is their combined effect.
Often the farmer can best evaluate the solution that is most suitable for their farm. For example, even if a combination of a livestock guardian dog and an electronic fence would provide effective protection, it may be difficult to acquire, train and keep a guardian dog on pasture if the animals are scattered and the pastures are far apart.
Farmers are already applying and testing new protection measures on their own, such as playing the radio on pasture. It is essential that society supports the protection of domestic animals, for example, by offering information, tools and financial support.
The LIFE BOREALWOLF project helps plan protection measures and advises on the procurement of materials. For example, the project planners intend to test the use of streamer lines and noise- and light-emitting banishing devices on livestock farms in collaboration with the farmers.
“We will test which of the banishing methods applied elsewhere in the world would be suitable for Finnish circumstances. We will also introduce to farms new ways to protect animals when wolves move in the vicinity of the farm,” says Mari Tikkunen, project coordinator at the Finnish Wildlife Agency.
The project also offers to farmers lightweight electric fences, which can be delivered and erected quickly.
Project planners help protect your livestock
The planners of the LIFE BOREALWOLF project can be contacted in matters concerning the prevention of losses. In acute situations, when losses have already occurred or when the risk of losses is particularly high, the project planners should be contacted urgently.
Contact details:
Mari Tikkunen
Finnish Wildlife Agency Kainuu
mari.tikkunen@riista.fi
029 431 2239
Mikko Jokinen
Finnish Wildlife Agency Satakunta
mikko.jokinen@riista.fi
029 431 2324
