PRACTICAL SUPPORT - Wolf fencing Team Belgium

Abstract

Species: Wolf

Country: Belgium

Implementation: 2019 – ongoing 

Contact info: infowolffencing [dot] be (info[at]wolffencing[dot]be) - Pepijn [dot] T'Hooftwwf [dot] be

More information: On the project website (Flemish) and the Facebook and Instagram channels.

The issue:

The wolf has made a remarkable comeback in Europe, thanks to protection under the Bern Convention and the Habitats Directive. However, the return of the large predator to western Europe’s populated landscapes has not been without its problems. In addition to hunting wild ungulates, wolves may also prey on domestic livestock, especially sheep flocks. In the absence of wolves, the practice of guarding and sheltering livestock has declined in some locations. This has frequently led to significant tensions between those who believe wolves should be protected and those who oppose their return.  

Following the return of the wolf to France and Germany, Belgium is one of the latest countries to experience recolonisation. In 2018, a wolf was recorded in Belgium for the first time in over a century. This female wolf was radio-collared and had travelled from Germany via the Netherlands before settling in Flanders. Later that year, another wolf was recorded in Wallonia. After more than a century without wolves, there has been a mix of emotions and concerns among the public. In 2019, the first recorded pregnant female was most likely deliberately killed. However, this was followed by a successful reproduction in Flanders in 2020 and one year later in Wallonia. Since then, the growing presence of wolves has created tensions with livestock owners, who fear for the safety of their livestock. Reported killings of farm and domestic animals further fuelled tensions over their presence, leading to protests such as the "Big Bad Wolf March" in 2021, which saw 3,000 people participating. 

A solution: 

A swift response to the wolf's recolonisation, focusing on practical support to reduce livestock damage, can change these negative attitudes and promote coexistence between wolves and livestock owners. In Flanders, the government rapidly put in place subsidised support for livestock breeders, however often they had difficulties accessing the funds. In 2019, just one year after the return of the wolves, three nature conservation NGOs (Natuurpunt, Natagora and WWF-Belgium) founded the Wolf Fencing Team Belgium (WFTB). The WFTB is a professional and volunteer network of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds. They provide practical and technical support to livestock owners during the transition period when changes in practice are required due to the return of the wolf. Their services are free of charge and include technical advice, help in applying for grants and subsidies, on-site advisory support and on-the-ground fence adaptation work. WFTB advisers visit each livestock owner in person to listen to their concerns and give advice on how to modify their fences. They consider each person's individual situation and build trust through repeated interactions.

Actions:

• Hiring full-time prevention advisors and building up a volunteer network.
• Development of training for staff and volunteers:
  • An Initial training weekend was tested for volunteers. It focused on information on the wolf as well as the practical installation of wolf-proof fences by electric fence specialists. 30 volunteers participated in the first training.
  • Preparation of a comprehensive training course and manual, information brochures and a detailed website.
  • Further training weekends were held to teach volunteers how to analyse high-risk situations, advise livestock owners and install wolf-proof fences.
• Advisory visits to livestock owners to help them select the right protection measures and apply for funding to implement them:
  • Preparation of a step-by-step plan for adapting fences, along with a list of materials and a cost estimate.
  • Subsidy application and plan are then sent to administrators by the livestock owner.
  • Adaptation of the fence by professionals and volunteers.
  • Follow-up checks to ensure fences remain wolf-deterrent when requested.
  • Sharing information and reminders about the importance of regular maintenance is key.
• Free access to support tools on the website:
  • Tools to help users identify the right type of electric fence energiser for their needs and the subsidies they may be eligible for.
  • Creation of a video tutorial for people who want to make their own fences wolf-deterrent, including technical information on different methods and types of fences. This information is also available on the website in the form of detailed, illustrated instructions.
• Following the successful model in Flanders, the Wolf Fencing Team was also established in Wallonia in 2022, in close cooperation with local partners and with support from the Walloon government. Led by a professional coordinator, the team works to install wolf-deterrent fencing and provide hands-on support to livestock owners in the field.

What changed:

When the wolf returned, Belgium reacted quickly, enlisting the support of NGOs and volunteers. This approach is yielding positive results. Since the WFTB's establishment, none of its adapted wolf-deterrent fences have been breached by wolves, despite 304 cases of damage being reported in the region. Between 2018 and 2024, cases of livestock damage by wolves decreased by 44.59%, and casualties (including dead, lost, and injured animals) by 39.52%, in the provinces of Limburg and Antwerp.

Since its establishment, the team has grown to comprise six professionals and 62 active, trained volunteers out of a total of 273 volunteers in 2023. WFTB services are well-accepted. By 2025, more than 1320 livestock owners had sought help. All requests have been handled, with every applicant receiving at least advice by email, and an on-site advisory visit when requested. The team has significantly expanded its reach, conducting 12 visits to livestock owners in the initial year, 165 visits in 2022, and 280 visits in 2023. Notably, there has been a 72% increase in the number of visits in 2023 compared to 2022. This increase is partly due to additional funding which has reduced the waiting time for visits from over a year to one or two weeks. The number of wolf deterrent fences installed by WFTB exhibited a remarkable increase, rising from four in 2019 to 201 as of July 2025.

Since 2019, an estimated 19% of livestock owners in the first wolf territory in Flanders and surrounding areas have adapted their fences to make them wolf-deterrent. In the core area of the wolf territory, this number rises to over 50%. These figures show a clear willingness among livestock owners to take action but also underline the importance of ongoing support. That is why the Wolf Fencing Team continues to assist livestock owners, not only with new installations, but also by offering voluntary check-ups to assess whether existing fences still meet wolf deterrence standards and to help resolve any technical issues that arise over time.

These successes are reflected in public attitudes in the region, resulting in reduced controversy about wolf presence in recent years. The WFTB's success was also recognized at European level. They were finalists at the 2024 Natura 2000 Award and in a public vote, came second place for the Citizens’ Award. 

Inspired by their success, similar initiatives are currently established in neighbouring regions. A 'Wolf Fencing Team Wallonia' was established in close cooperation with the Flemish WFTB in 2022. The team also exchanges regularly with other similar initiatives from neighbouring countries such as the German initiative Livestock protection Lower Saxony “Herdenschutz Niedersachen”. Further international collaboration was promoted during the joint, regional workshop “Large Carnivores and Livestock Protection: best practice for protection measures” together with the EU Large Carnivore Platform and LIFEstockProtect in Wallonia.

Financing:

In addition to WWF Belgium, Natuurpunt, and Natagora, the Wolf Fencing Team Belgium is supported by the regional governments. In Flanders, this includes the Nature and Forest Agency of the Flemish Government and the Province of Limburg. In Wallonia, the project is supported by the Public Service of Wallonia as part of the regional Wolf Plan.

Other examples:

Wolf Fencing Southern Netherlands

Wolf Fencing Southern Netherlands is also a professional and volunteer network that works in the southern provinces of the Netherlands: Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Zeeland. They offer free help to farmers who want to wolf-proof their fences. 

Herdenschutz Niedersachen (Herd protection Lower Saxony)

‘Herdenschutz Niedersachen’ is a professional and volunteer network in Lower Saxony aimed at helping livestock farmers adapt to the presence of wolves. The project provides free support to farmers for implementing and maintaining livestock protection measures.