Wolves in the Netherlands eat relatively few sheep, researchers say

The wolves that live in the Netherlands, mainly eat boar and other wild hoof animals, such as roe deer and red deer. This is apparent from research To Wolvenpoep, which published the universities of Leiden and Antwerp, the Mammal Association and Stichting Leo on Tuesday. The wolven rods investigated in the Veluwe and in Drenthe appear to eat sheep and other cattle less often than before.

The researchers studied 735 wolf droppings in 2023 and found her, bones and other prey residues. The results showed a big difference between the wolf relief in the Veluwe and that in Drenthe. In the Veluwe wolves mainly eat wild boar (present in 62 percent of the droppings), deer (56 percent) and red deer (32 percent).

In Drenthe, deer are the only wild species, so that species is the main prey (63 percent) of the wolves in that province. In addition, remains of natural cattle were found in 43 percent of the Wolvenpoep. The cattle graze in nature reserves and are used for nature management. The researchers could not determine whether the wolves killed these animals themselves or whether they eat carcasses of naturally deceased cattle.

Few sheep

The share of ‘sheep’ in the diet of the wolf differs per region, but is generally low. « The Veluwe WolvenTerritoria involves 5 percent of the diet, in Drenthe, 10 percent, » says Kevin Groen, one of the researchers at Leiden University. The report speaks of an ‘opportunistic diet’ of the wolf and a ‘great adaptability’; Wolves also eat birds, hare and small mammals.

Livestock farmers have been protesting against the presence of the Wolf for some time, which is growing strongly in the Netherlands in number. According to Wolveneldpunt Bij12, there are currently between 104 and 124. According to the organization, those wolves were probably killing around 1,700 in 2024, mainly sheep.

In Drenthe, the deer is the only wild species, so it is the main prey (63 percent) of the wolves there

With the information about the Wolf’s diet, the researchers want to « contribute to a possible peaceful living together of people and wolf in the Netherlands ». The debate about whether or not the wolf is keeping it louder and louder. Solutions are being sought in The Hague, such as ‘wolf -free zones’ or animals. Bite incidents such as in April and last Monday Did the discussion flared up again.

The wolf in the Veluwe who bit a runner in April, may be shot by the province Gelderland, although Wolven and Nature Researchers have been saying that such measures make no sense. « If you shoot one there will be a new wolf next week, » said Wolven connoisseur Glenn Lelieveld earlier against NRC.

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