Graubünden was able to carry out 20 of 44 planned wolf culls
Published: Monday, Feb 5th 2024, 12:40
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The canton of Graubünden shot a total of 20 wolves between August 2023 and January 31 of this year. The canton of Graubünden has thus carried out two thirds of the killings approved up to the end, explained Cantonal Councillor Carmelia Maissen (center) to the media on Monday.
The canton originally wanted to shoot 44 of the at least 90 wolves living in Graubünden by January 31. However, 13 of these shootings approved by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) were already blocked on December 8 by objections from environmental associations. This left 31 authorized shoots. Of these, 20 were carried out.
Only 6 of these culls were carried out in accordance with the hunting regulations, which were relaxed from December 1. Until January 31, this allowed so-called proactive culls, which can also be carried out without damage to livestock caused by packs. 14 of the kills were carried out reactively under the old law after wolves had killed large numbers of sheep and goats.
Extermination of wolf packs failed
The canton was unable to achieve its goal of completely eradicating four of the twelve wolf packs in Graubünden. Two of these "complete removals" were blocked by objections. In the case of the two other packs, the wolf hunt went badly.
As Arno Puorger from the Office for Hunting and Fishing explained, one of these four packs may have disintegrated after only two kills. The pack in question was the Beverin pack, which had gained nationwide notoriety following attacks on suckler cows.
Councillor Maissen expressed her satisfaction with the results of the wolf hunt. In particular, she pointed out that two thirds of the hunts approved up to the end had been carried out.
The canton is pursuing three objectives with the regulation, said the head of the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Mobility. The aim is to stop the growth of the wolf population, reduce damage to livestock and make the wolves more timid. Only the coming months will show whether these goals have been achieved.
Most of the gamekeepers on the prowl
The canton made a considerable effort for the big wolf hunt. 50 of Graubünden's 59 gamekeepers were on the prowl, often at night.
In addition, 435 hunters were granted permission to shoot large carnivores during the special winter hunting season. However, due to the special hunt planning and the objections, these were only a few days. During these days, no hunter succeeded in shooting a wolf.
In order to cope with the complex wolf regulation, the canton wants to create five more gamekeeper positions, as Maissen explained. The next planned proactive regulation period will be twice as long as the first. It will begin on September 1, 2024 and last until January 31, 2025.
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