Numéro #170

Varying management practices and protecting mountain sheep pastures from wolves and wild dogs

In the Stura de Demonte Valley (SW Alps, province of Cuneo, Italy) until a few years ago, given the absence of large carnivores, and the lack of labour, shepherds use to drive their flocks to mountain summer pastures and leave them alone for the whole summer : they made use of the summer pastures completely, even in remote areas. Nowadays, the grazing management is seriously affected by the increasing presence of stray dogs and wolves (Canis lupus L.), so that grazing practices have to be changed and adapted to the new situation : the risk of losses due to depredation (300 heads during the last six mountain pasture seasons) has affected grazing management, and discouraged the use of remote and inaccessible alpine sheep pastures. Shepherds use now to fence in and protect their flock every night (a practice resulting in uneven faeces distribution on the land).
The purpose of this paper is to point out the existing problems and to suggest possible solutions to prevent predations in mountain sheep pastures. The main results of the researches carried out and the techniques adopted in several foreign countries (like Switzerland and Slovenia) to limit the attacks by large predators are reviewed. Among them, electric fences together with lighting systems, as well as livestock guarding dogs seem to secure an adequate flock protection in mountain summer pastures. In the long term however, the presence of wolves is of educational and touristic importance and will have to be integrated in the flock management policy.