The Nature and Forest Agency commented on the recent wolf sightings in Luxembourg, and what it could mean for the Grand Duchy's ecosystem.
Earlier this week, the Agency confirmed several wolf sightings in eastern Luxembourg, which coincided with the publication of a North American study on the impact of wolves on the ecosystem.
Although the results of the American study cannot be individually transposed to Europe or Luxembourg, the effects of a wolf presence can be observed on the different species of animals in areas where wolves appear - for example, there is a particular impact on species such as deer, wild boar or wild sheep.
Marianne Jacobs of the Nature and Forest Agency explained: "When wolves appear in an area and start to form packs, there is a reduction in the population [of their prey], but you also observe different behaviours as they start to develop."
Other animals start to form larger herds as a response to the wolf presence, and also change their behaviour in terms of moving around. Jacobs described it thus: "Herds won't stay in one place for too long, so they eat less and move on quickly. As a result, we see a 'rejuvenation' of sorts in the local fauna, as the forest and its plants have more time to grow and renew themselves."
In regions where the wolf had been absent for many decades, the presence of just one or two of the predators could trigger a change in behaviour for other creatures.
"It isn't exactly a massive reduction in an animal population due to being eaten by wolves. Instead, it is more about these animals changing their behaviour when confronted with the presence of a wolf. These herds would usually linger in one area, which has its own long-term impacts, and means it takes a long time for an ecosystem to change, or refresh itself, and return to its previous state."
In terms of nature management, wolves are considered a native species in Europe and would only have a negative impact if they began targeting domestic or farm animals. Jacobs said the Agency encourages open discussions about the presence of wolves in Luxembourg, without developing immediate prejudice.
