As wolf attacks in the Chamonix Valley Alpine Pastures become more frequent, elected officials need to come up with a solution to protect the flocks, given that wolves are a protected species.
With no fewer than six attacks since 26 April 2020, wolves have become a problem in the Chamonix Valley Alpine pastures. Around thirty sheep and goats were killed during these attacks, that took place in Servoz, Les Houches and on the Charamillon pasture, located at the end of the Chamonix valley.
Elected officials have a difficult mission in determining the measures that need to be taken, as wolves are listed as an endangered species and killing them is illegal, under the Bern Convention.
A study is launched
At the moment, there are some questions that remained unanswered. How many wolves are responsible for these attacks? Where do they come from? Do they come from Beaufortain via Les Contamines Montjoie, from Valais or Chablais?
To answer these questions and to determine the measures needed to handle this new threat, the Community of communes of the Chamonix valley brought together the ten breeders concerned, the State services and the Society of Alpine Economy.
During a consultation meeting, the elected officials decided to commission a specialized cabinet, the Institute for the Promotion and Research on Protective Animals (Ipra).
According to Nicolas Evrard, mayor of Servoz and also vice-president of the Community of communes of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley in charge of the territory, natural areas and agriculture, the specialist Jean-Marc Landry must define the number of the wolves. In this regard, photographic traps will make it possible to determine if there is a single wolf, a couple or a pack.
Protective measures to be studied
Following the count, the specialized cabinet must then carry out a vulnerability diagnosis for each breeder.
From herds to mountain pastures, everything will be reviewed, to determine the protective measures that need to be taken, even if it will be difficult for small breeders to pay for the services of a shepherd or to invest heavily in facilities and nets protections.
Marc Ouvrier-Buffet, a breeder of a hundred animals, believes that the funding of these measures could jeopardize the profitability of the pastoral activity.
Patou dogs could be a solution, but the Ipra cabinet is responsible for accompanying farmers but also tourist offices. Because hikers too could have a bad encounter with a canine. You have to know what behaviours to adopt.
One thing is certain, the wolf is a protected animal. Breeders and hikers will have to learn to live with it, this summer.
Source @Le Dauphine
