In early October two sheep near Ferwert fell victim not to a dog or a wolf, but to a golden jackal. DNA research of the BIJ12 executive organization proved this.
The golden jackal is a canid between a fox and a wolf in size. On February 12, the animal first observed in Friesland when it was filmed by a camera by mammalian expert Harrie Bosma in the municipality of De Fryske Marren.
The golden jackal is known as an omnivore. Mice, rats and rabbits are the main component of its meal, according to the Mammal Association, but the animal can also handle larger prey items. There are also examples of attacks on sheep. In the Netherlands, this was established twice in 2020 in Gelderland.
protected European
In a European context, the golden jackal is a protected native species. The Netherlands has not named the animal in its nature conservation law. Consequently, there is no national clearing system. The province of Gelderland has drawn up its own guidelines, which do not yet exist in Friesland.
