Wolf attacks on livestock drop in Netherlands after years of steady increase

Reports of wolf attacks on livestock in the Netherlands fell in the first quarter of this year for the first time in years, to 255 cases, down from 385 in the same period last year, according to data from BIJ12 and an ANP analysis.

Of the 255 reports, 112 were confirmed as wolf attacks. In three cases, investigators could not determine whether a wolf was responsible. The remaining 140 cases are still under investigation.

In the same period in 2025, authorities attributed 370 attacks to wolves, a record that was not surpassed this year. The broader trend over recent years has been sharply upward, rising from 104 attacks in 2021 to 1,079 reports last year.

Experts say there is no single clear reason for the decline. One factor may be increased prevention by farmers. Several provinces offer subsidies for wolf-resistant fencing to keep wolves out of enclosures. Farmers can also reduce risk by bringing sheep indoors at night or moving them away from areas where wolves are active.

Martijn Lambregts of Werkgroep Wolf Nederland said the data does not fully explain the drop. “We see that more people are using these methods in small steps, but that alone cannot explain the decline,” he said.

Another possible explanation is food availability in the wild. Last year saw higher-than-average levels of acorns and beech nuts, which boosted populations of deer and wild boar, the wolf’s main prey.

“If there is enough food available for the wolf in the wild, it is less likely to switch to low-hanging fruit,’ meaning farm animals,” said ecologist Hugh Jansman of Wageningen University.

Reporting suspected wolf attacks is not mandatory. BIJ12 said there is no indication farmers are reporting fewer incidents. Even with the quarterly decline, officials note the long-term increase remains steep compared with previous years. In 2021, 104 attacks were recorded. Last year, that figure rose to 1,079 reported incidents.

Most livestock last year was poorly protected, according to BIJ12 data. Out of about 1,100 incidents, only 81 involved animals behind wolf-proof fencing. In 44 cases, farmers had taken protective measures, but they were insufficient.