Over the past two weeks, the FDESA has recorded 10 wolf attacks in Isère. The Federation and the Union of Young Farmers (JA) of Isère denounce this Saturday, November 20 a situation which is worsening for breeders. The number of animals killed increased from 1,128 in 2019 to 1,217 in 2020. These figures represent the number of animal victims declared to the Departmental Directorate of Isère Territories (DDT38). The FDSEA and JA denounce compensation that is not up to par and legislation that protects the wolf, to the detriment of pastoralism.
A ceiling is set each year to regulate the number of wolves killed. This year, it is 118 in France. The prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and coordinator of the national action plan on the wolf may decide to raise it to 130. To date, 90 wolves have been slaughtered.
At the beginning of November, the wolf struck on the farm of Patrick Lebreux. He raises dairy cows in Champier. In all, about a hundred cattle. It was one of his calves that paid the price. The breeder got along after a few attacks in the area, but psychologically, it’s still a shock. “I discovered the calf completely devoured, he recounts. When we only find the head and shoulder of the calf, it feels weird. I haven’t slept all night. In breeding areas, cohabitation is impossible, the wolf must be eradicated there.”
Breeders often find themselves helpless. Protections, fences, patous are not always enough, for Jérôme Crozat the president of the FDSEA Isère. “What we are offered is to enclose our pastures, but 15-day-old calves have been practically chewed on the farms. We are not going to fence two meters high. This is inapplicable in Nord-Isère. Fifteen years ago a wolf around Lake Paladru was shot and for 15 years we were quiet. Today we are asking for the same thing: to shoot down the two wolves that are in the area.”
This Monday, November 22, the unions and elected officials have an appointment with the prefect of Isère to discuss the solutions that can be provided. The department recommends, for example, a relaxation of the legislation and more transparent figures on the counting wolves.