The latest monitoring
The data from the latest monitoring on the Canis lupus species in Italy published by ISPRA in 2022 and referring to the previous two years - underestimated by the Institute's own admission - speak of approximately 3.300/3.600 specimens distributed in almost all Italian regions with the exception of the Islands. An exponential increase for this species, considering that at the beginning of the Seventies it was considered at risk of extinction in our country, with a few specimens remaining to populate mostly impervious mountain areas. The increase in the wolf population in Italy, together with the phenomenon of hybridization with i stray dogs – a worrying and too often underestimated aspect for the conservation of the species – has inevitably led to an increase in meeting opportunities, increasing the risk of accidents. Leaving aside conflicts with farm animals, in recent years there has been a dramatic increase in reports of attacks and predation by wolves against hunting dogs, guardian dogs and even domestic dogs.
Media impact
This phenomenon has recently achieved ever greater resonance, both due to the impact of such events on social media and an increasingly widespread general media coverage even if often linked to local realities. The initiative of the Federcaccia Hunters Coordination with the support of Federcaccia Nazionale in collaboration with the Studies and Research Office arises from the desire to reconstruct an overall picture that better allows us to grasp the phenomenon, if not in its entirety then certainly in a broader way. of the Federation to collect and catalog proven episodes regarding attacks and predation of dogs by wolves on Italian territory. The work presented today is the result of research and analysis free from preconceptions and based on objective data systematically organized with an approach which, although not intended to be or replace the scientific one of technicians and researchers, is characterized by the utmost rigor and seriousness, separating the made by chatter, detaching oneself from those who for various and different interests tend to reduce or exaggerate the effects of the consistent presence of the wolf.
Wildlife and environmental management
An effective contribution, the result of careful work on the territory, making - as often happens for the management of fauna and the environment - the work and actions of hunters, available to society and the competent institutions, conceived precisely as a tool for those , an organization or professional figure, is responsible for carrying out an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon, providing answers to an increasingly large segment of the population called upon to live with the wolf. Predations, as demonstrated by numerous episodes also highlighted in the Report, can in fact occur both in natural environments, such as woods and forests, and in urban contexts, such as courtyards and streets of towns or cities. The management of this phenomenon is not only a request for safety on the part of society, but also a crucial element to guarantee a peaceful and balanced coexistence between man and predator. “The wolf is not a huntable species and in all clarity hunters as such are not interested in it being so. However, this does not mean that as citizens who experience rurality and are close to all the activities linked to it, we are interested in ensuring that the management of the wolf and the conflicts that its presence can generate are addressed by the institutions" declared Massimo Buconi, national president of Federcaccia.
Predation by hunting dogs
“The issue of dog predation by wolves requires a balanced approach, based on scientific evidence and not on fashions or ideologies” he continued during the presentation. “Unfortunately there are no simple solutions. It is essential to find a balance between the dutiful protection of the species and the responsible management of human activities. From this point of view, correct management of the wolf species becomes more urgent and indispensable than ever and I am convinced that this work that we present today can give those who are called upon to do so - Government, Ministries, Research Institutes, Regions... - their contribution to continue in this direction." “Just as underlined by the President – added Isabella Villa, head of Hunting Coordination – our Report aims to provide a detailed snapshot of what is happening in the hunting environment, with the predation of hunting dogs, but not only. Unfortunately, cases of dogs being preyed on while out walking, on a leash, with their owners are not isolated. However, an incomplete photograph because too many people still prefer not to report, but it shows how the cases are constantly growing." “On the other hand, the European Union itself is dealing with the 'wolf question', evaluating a downgrading of its status from particularly protected species to protected species. We will continue our data collection – she concluded – in order to continue to provide as detailed a picture as possible of what is happening” (Press office of the Italian Hunting Federation – Federcaccia Hunting Coordination).