How freeing a few packs of wolves could enliven the Scots economy

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Oh deer! Lewis Smith, Environment Reporter Deer cull costs would be reduced Trophy hunting a tourism attraction Reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands to control the rapidly growing red deer population would boost the economy and help to protect the environment, a study suggests. Red deer have been blamed for destroying trees and vegetation in the Highlands and it is thought that packs of wolves could reduce their numbers by more than half,

saving estates from having to carry out costly culls. The wolves could also cut the number of animals that eat game birds and their eggs. Researchers from Imperial College, London, and two Norwegian universities said that the spread of wolves was likely to be so successful that within a century of their reintroduction, wolf trophy hunting could begin again. Scotland’s last wolf was shot dead in 1769. The study suggests that the wolves would be responsible for up to 80 per cent of sheep deaths in the open, but argues that such a loss would have little impact on the viability of farms as most are already loss-making but for the support of subsidies. There would be “emotional consequences to sheep farmers”, the

researchers said. Landowners and conservationists have called for the reintroduction of wolves for several years but this is the first study to assess the potential impact. The team used computer models based on a reintroduction of three wolf packs on the Isle of Rum. Although the island is an unlikely release site, it was chosen because previous research had provided detailed information on the deer population. After 25 years, the wolf population would increase to more than 150 per 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles), then fall to about 20 per 1,000 sq km as pack sizes stabilised, similar to the number seen in the wild today in the Bialoweiza Forest in Poland. Simultaneously, the deer population would drop from more than twenty per sq km to about seven. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society, said: “Model results suggest that a wolf reintroduction would be economically beneficial for deer estates.” The reduction would also

help forest regeneration, improve forest animal breeding rates, especially birds, and cut the number of deer ticks, which pass on Lyme disease to people. Tim Coulson, of Imperial College, London, said that trophy hunting of wolves could be one of the potential economic benefits. “It would be possible for a few individuals of a viable population of wolves to be hunted. If the wolf population was successful there’s nothing to stop a few licences being issued,” he said. The study said that, although Highland sheep farms mainly depended on subsidies, the loss of livestock to wolves should be considered beyond profit and loss assessments. Farmers could be compensated for livestock losses but that their emotional attachment to their sheep “should not be ignored”. Much of the research was based on studies in Yellowstone Park, in the United States, where the reintroduction programme had been so successful that wildlife managers were considering issuing hunting

licences. The US Fish and Wildlife Service said on Monday that wolf numbers were high enough to warrant taking them off the endangered species list in three states. Removal is being considered for three more states. Dr Coulson said that wolves were wary of people and that attacks by them were “extremely unusual”. Call of the wild Wolves can measure up to 6ft (1.8m) nose to tail They usually travel 10-30 miles a day but can manage 125. They can sprint at 35mph. Territory is from 50 to 5,000 square miles During chases they can sprint at 35mph, and can run for up to ten miles at 15mph. Their prey is usually exhausted within three miles In Scotland their prey would be mainly red deer. Elsewhere it includes reindeer, elk and bison They can eat 20lb (9kg) of meat in one sitting They howl to proclaim territory, improve group bonding and call pack

members to a kill They live for about six years but have been known to reach 13 years Peter H

 

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