“It's also a message to all breeders”: Lozère has five new wolf hunting lieutenants

Les lieutenants de louveterie de la Lozère ont été reçus dans les salons de Gilles Quénéhervé, le préfet, pour accueillir les nouveaux louvetiers. MIDI LIBRE – Lola Pesquié

This Thursday, December 12, 2024, Gilles Quénéhervé, the prefect of Lozère, signed the decree appointing the five new lieutenants of wolf hunting in Lozère. It was also an opportunity to honor the group and its involvement, as well as to recall its importance in the department, particularly in terms of protection against wolves.

Gilles Quénéhervé, the prefect of Lozère, received in his salons, this Thursday, December 12, the lieutenants of wolf hunting of the department, for the signing of the decree formalizing the renewal of the current lieutenants (fifteen in all) and especially recording the appointment of five new ones, for a period of five years (2025-2029). The current mandate will end this Tuesday, December 31.

The opportunity to honor them and to salute the quality of their interventions as well as their involvement. As the new prefect of Lozère, Gilles Quénéhervé said he was discovering this field “with pleasure”. He was enthusiastic about the idea of ​​working with them. “I was told about the wolf problem from the first day. Throughout my meetings, it's a subject that comes up every time.”

“The State will always support them”

For the oldest member of the group, a wolf-hunting lieutenant since 2008, the support of the prefect is important. “The prefect must follow us, it motivates us even more.”Especially since the previous prefect, Philippe Castanet, was very involved and had put resources in place.

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“This signature reassures the old ones and welcomes the new ones by wishing them welcome in the fight that we are leading against the wolf. It is to tell them that the State will always support them. It is also a message to all breeders. We show them that we are at their side”, assures the prefect.

An important role

In Lozère, the wolf hunters intervene mainly from March to October. Their role is to “manage wildlife,” summarized Agnès Delsol, the departmental director of territories in Lozère. They also have a role in preserving herds from wolf predation.” The wolf hunters' biggest intervention points are Mont Lozère, the causses and Aigoual.

“They intervene if they are sent on a mission. It depends on the context. They cannot intervene for every damage. There are only twenty of them. They are volunteers. They act in recurring situations or when there is significant damage, added the woman who is also a general engineer for bridges, water and forests. They are sent on a mission when the breeder is no longer sufficient to ensure the surveillance and protection of his herd.”

On the other hand, the wolf hunter cannot intervene “if the breeder has not put protective measures in place, such as guard dogs, electric fences, guarding by a shepherd, or even the nightly regrouping of the herd in a space restricted.”

A regulated framework

In a highly regulated framework and under very specific conditions, wolf hunters can sometimes hunt wolves, but this is rare and it is not their primary vocation to eliminate them.

Vincent Salanson, president of the Lozère wolf hunting group, summarized his activity as follows: “We go to see the farmers to make observations. We meet them to see what they can put in place to protect their herds without going so far as to shoot the predators. Our missions are broad. They can also concern animals injured on the side of the road. It is sometimes a long time to wait, at night, without seeing much. And then we have to get back to work in the morning.“

State auxiliaries

Bruno Diet is 60 years old and is one of the new wolf hunters. “As an early retiree, I wanted to dedicate my time to the service of the community. I have farmers in my family. I am quite sensitive to their cause. There is also a sentimental and human aspect. Seeing your animals attacked by a wild beast can be very difficult for farmers. People have been caught after killing a wolf when they had no right to do so. I think it is better to turn to us, who are state auxiliaries with whom everything is very structured.”