Last Friday, the wolf hunting season began, and on that very day the Hunting Coordination Commission of the Cēsis Municipality met for a meeting to consider the submission of the sheep farming farm regarding the damage caused by wolves.
The vice-chairman of the commission, the senior forester of the Central Midlands Superforestry Division, Druvis Melderis, informed that since the beginning of June there were wolves in several farms, this was confirmed. Wolves were also recorded in video cameras posted by hunters. Predators cause damage mostly in the farms of the Amata, Zaubes side. The commission includes representatives of both the State Forest Service and the Rural Support Service, farmers and the municipality. The meeting was attended by four sheep farmers – Brigita Lūlia – Frankēviča, Solvita Geistere, Arta Celma and Elīna Aleksējeva -, representatives of the hunting collectives “Dažupīte” and “Amatas mednieks” Jānis Gasiņš and Guntis Skrastiņš.
In Amata parish, there were five wolf attacks on the farm of Elīna Aċeksējeva, four on the herd of SIA “SF17”, SIA “EISS” in Zaubes parish and one each on SIA “Jaunžūras” in Vaives parish, Rāmuļi side. Significant losses were caused: 50 sheep were bitten on one farm, 11 and 10 were injured on another, several more were missing.
Elina Aleksejeva wrote an application for granting compensation. “This is the first time that the commission examines the issue of wolves. Their damage to sheep farming farms is becoming more and more urgent, the worry of sheep farmers is understandable, because losses are caused,” said the head of the commission, Cēsi County Council Member Andris Melbārdis, and emphasized: “We all live in the countryside, we know about the damage that forest animals cause to farmers. Many of us are hunters, we know the situation.”
There must be a fence and a contract with hunters
In the course of the session, the real situation was identified, and the daily problems of sheep farmers, how to protect flocks, and cooperation with hunting groups were discussed. The regulations on determining the damage caused by game animals and hunting coordination commissions provide that if damage has been caused, the owner has the right to demand compensation from the state. After receiving the application, the Commission verifies the said damages and the protective measures taken.
The regulations state: “The extent of losses and the degree of damage are determined if protective measures have been taken at the site of the damage against possible damage by game animals to agriculture or forestry, as well as to infrastructure objects, if they have been maintained in accordance with the requirements of the operation and maintenance regulations. If protective measures have not been taken, the commission records the fact and extent of damage.”
There was a wide discussion about what a sheep farmer can do and what should be done. A proper fence can protect sheep from wolves. A. Melbárdis emphasized that the electric shepherd will protect the sheep from leaving the fence, not from the wolves. “You have to put up a proper fence, like the owners of deer gardens, like beekeepers around their hives, to protect against bears. As in every business, sheep farming also has its own risks, in order to prevent them, it is necessary to invest,” A. Melbārdis expressed his opinion.
Aitkopes explained that without talking about the large investment to build a fence, they cannot be installed, because a large part of the pastures is leased land. Territory owners do not enter into long-term contracts. Sheep do not graze in just one pen. It is impossible to carry a stationary fence around the parish, the sheepherder joked. Several farms have insured their sheep, but it is very expensive and the deductibles are high.
In order to be able to claim compensation for the damage caused by the hunted forest animals, the sheep farmer must have a contract with the hunting collective. Unfortunately, not all farms and not for every cadastral unit used for grazing have concluded it. The experience of cooperating with hunters and sheep farms is varied. There are collectives who immediately respond, ready to help, and there are those who are not interested. There are also situations when one pasture field is entrusted to one group of hunters, the other to another. “If the hunting team does not respond to the damage, you have the right to change the team, sign a contract with another,” explained A. Melbärdis.
Cooperation between hunters and farmers has often been discussed. “If everyone knows that there are more wolves, if there is evidence of the damage they cause to flocks, why not hunt them,” sheep farmers asked repeatedly. Unfortunately, the hunting season starts only on July 15, but the grazing season starts a couple of months earlier. Rules are rules.
Hunters are ready to help
D. Melderis emphasized that the number of wolves has increased, they have appeared in places where they have never been seen before. The fact that wolves go home, in barns, is not characteristic of these animals. “Wolves are listed in the European Red Book. They are not hunted in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, but in Norway and Germany in some regions. In Latvia, we are allowed to hunt at least 280 per season,” reminded G.Skrastiņš. Experienced hunters also emphasized that, unfortunately, amendments to the state regulations are not planned in the coming years, which will be the reason why deer will be rare in the forest. The ban on lynx hunting will affect both these animals and sheep farming.
“We are competitors with wolves and lynxes. Hunters are interested in having something to hunt in the forest. If there are fewer and fewer deer and moose, we are also worried. There is a photo where a lynx can be seen walking near Saulrītie in Cēsis. They will be the next ones to destroy herds and populations of other forest animals,” said A. Melbárdis.
Commission members and hunters explained that hunting wolves requires experience, hunting is time-consuming. “Hunting is a hobby, but hunters are ready to help,” emphasized A. Melbārdis.
Could something change in the foreseeable future? The commission members admitted that they did not. More wolves will probably not be allowed to be hunted. “Wolf advocates should organize a tour of the farm after the wolf invasion. Let him see the bitten and bitten sheep. Do they deserve such death and suffering? We raise sheep with love, we invest in work, but it turns out that we are raising food for wolves,” said S. Geistere.
Sheep farmers were advised to report each damage, which unfortunately is not done, and thus the total number of sheep bitten is not known. “We are quiet as mice, we don’t report, we always wonder what’s the point. If you did more, talked, maybe things would change. We are beggars that we want to farm. We can hope for help and compensation from hunters,” said E. Aleksejeva, while B. Lūlia-Frankeviča admitted: “If there are only 24 submissions about wolf damage in Latvia this year until July 1, it also shows how much we hope to receive compensation. ” During the same period last year, the service received information about 13 confirmed wolf attacks.
The commission decided that E. Aleksejeva is not entitled to compensation for the damage caused by wolves, because no contract has been concluded with hunters for each cadastral unit where there are pastures.
Didzis Punāns, head of the Control and Monitoring Department of the Northern Vidzeme Regional Agricultural Administration of the Rural Support Service, admitted to “Druva” that landlords who rent land have bigger problems. “A stationary fence cannot be built, but an electric one against forest animals is not a solution. Serious investment is required. Dogs can also help. It is possible to attract project financing, but not in foreign ownership. In order to protect the herd, the investment must be calculated. Hunters can protect herds, but not against lynxes and bears, which cannot be hunted,” said D. Punāns.
To continue or not
After the commission meeting, the sheep farmers were full of thoughts. “I have been farming for 12 years. We were the first in Latvia to breed Doper sheep. This season will give the answer whether not to eliminate the herd. Emotionally, of course, it will be difficult,” said Brigita Ljulia – Frankeviča.
Arta Celma admitted that the situation in their farm is not as tragic as in others, wolves have bitten only four sheep. “August is still ahead. I cannot eliminate the herd, there are project obligations. We wanted to buy breed sheep, feed is prepared, but maybe in autumn, not now. Absurd – summer, grazing season, but animals must be kept in the barn. We let the sheep out, they ran as if for the first time in spring,” said A.Celma and emphasized that a structure with solar batteries was created in the corral, the radio plays and the lights flash. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the owner has become a hunter to protect the property.
Elina Alekseeva revealed that she is currently seriously considering how to farm further. “What will the lambs be like if the ewes live in a barn during the summer? If there is another attack, the herd should be eliminated, at least temporarily. We will not sell meat,” said E. Aleksejeva, but Solvita Geister emphasized that the work started should be continued.
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