A wolf is generally not liked by humans because it is a predator. The idea that there would be a wolf in the yard leaves most garden owners shivering. For them it is reassuring that wolves in 2016 do not live in the Netherlands. In the nineteenth century, the last wolf was spotted that had its permanent residence in the Netherlands. Yet there are nature lovers who would like the wolf to return in a way that is safe for humans. From the second decade of the twenty-first century, the Wolven in Nederland partnership has been striving for a conflict-free coexistence with wolves. Staatsbosbeheer also has plans to release wolves in certain areas.
Wolves and their prey
Although a wolf looks a lot like some dogs, it is definitely not a pet. You should also not have to give him dog food because he feeds on completely different things. Wolves prefer to hunt ungulates such as roe deer and red deer, but also wild boars and smaller animals such as rodents and lagomorphs. In the neighborhood where people live, tamer animals such as sheep and goats can be easy prey for them. But in the Netherlands the wolf has not been seen since the beginning of the twentieth century. In other European countries and worldwide wolves are still found in different subspecies.
About the wolf
Although the wolf’s color can vary from white through reddish brown to black, most wolves have gray fur with a reddish brown color on the back, head and ears. The length of a wolf is between 80 and 160 centimeters with a shoulder height of 65 to 80 centimeters and a tail of 30 to 50 centimeters. A female wolf is about ten percent smaller than a male and weighs 18 to 50 pounds while the male wolf weighs 20 to 80 pounds. A special feature of the wolf is the sense of smell, which is so great that the animal can discover other animals at a distance of 300 meters. He can also see well in the dark and is a good swimmer.
As large prey eaters looking for a lot of prey
Wolves are real carnivores. A large pack of wolves eats up to 400-500 roe deer, 50-100 red deer, 100 wild boars and some smaller animals every year. These potential prey animals are also very alert and will try to stay out of the reach of the wolves. The weaker animals are more likely to fall prey, so that the remaining population remains strong. To find its prey, a wolf travels 50 to 60 kilometers per day and can reach a speed of up to 50 kilometers per hour.
The wolf is a social animal
Wolves are social animals that live in packs and are led by a male and a female who usually have the sole right to reproduce. Their offspring usually stay in the pack for two years and then, when they have found a partner and territory, form their own pack. A territory has a size of between 200 and 2000 square kilometers. Depending on the food supply, the wolves live in large packs of up to 30 animals with a lot of food and only the couple and a few cubs with little food supply.
Wolves through the ages
Over the centuries, the wolf population has decreased drastically from very many to none at all in our regions today. People have had a clear hand in this, for example by shooting the animals. Yet there are still areas in the Northern Hemisphere where wolves still live and there are advocates to bring them back to the Netherlands as well.
Northern Hemisphere
Once upon a time, there were many wolves living throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Nowadays their habitat is drastically limited by the hand of the people.
Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, the wolf was considered a harmful animal because it robbed sheep and goats. He is also said to have attacked people. But in practice, wolves flee from humans. A wolf will only attack people in exceptional cases when, for example, they are near a nest of young. A wolf is actually a shy animal and will not attack an elk on its own. This only happens with a group of at least six animals.
England
Wolves still existed in England in the sixteenth century but disappeared afterwards.
The Netherlands and Belgium
In the Netherlands and Belgium they did not disappear until much later and have not been seen since the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the Netherlands, wolves first disappeared in the western provinces and later also in the southern provinces.
Other countries
The wolf is still found in France, Sweden, Portugal, Italy and Slovakia and in greater numbers in Spain and Poland. There are an estimated 10,000 wolves in Russia.
Wolves back in the Netherlands
Meanwhile, the realization has dawned that wolves are one of the wild animal species that is under threat. In the Netherlands, therefore, proposals are regularly made to introduce wolves.
Forestry Commission
For example, since 2008 Staatsbosbeheer has been planning to release wolves in the Oostvaardersplassen. A population on the Veluwe in a fenced-off area is also being considered.
Wolves in the Netherlands
Wolves in the Netherlands also believes that wolves should be able to find a place in the Netherlands. Wolven in Nederland is a partnership between ARK Natuurontwikkeling, FREE Nature, IFAW, IVN, Koninklijke Jagersvereniging, Natuurmonumenten, Rewilding Foundation, Studio Wolverine and the Zoogdiervereniging. The aim of the collaboration is to strive for a conflict-free coexistence with wolves. This goal is pursued, among other things, by providing information with the example of teaching farmers ways to protect livestock.
Room for how many wolves
The number of wolves that could live in the Netherlands is difficult to determine, but after research it is thought that there is room for a few dozen packs. Especially in the middle and east of the country there would be sufficient room for this. It must also be possible in Brabant and Limburg. Those who already want to see wolves can visit zoos such as Artis, Blijdorp, Dierenrijk Europe, Gaiapark and Ouwehands Zoo.