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More and more wolves in France

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Back in the summer I wrote a feature on the more frequent use of the Patou in the mountains to protect sheep from wolves.

https://stylealtitude.com/patou-sheep-dog-threat-walkers-french-alps.html

Should you encounter a Patou, depending on the dog it can be quite a traumatic experience, especially if you are not used to dogs...
France could soon have 500 wolves due to a species conservation plan. Shepherds in the Alps now need to protect their flocks from the very real threat of attack by a wolf and use a Patou dog to protect their flocks. But these intimidating giant white dogs can, in turn, seem to be a threat to walkers


And just seen this in todays Le Dauphine - a photo of 13 wolves in la Drôme SW of Grenoble !!!!



https://www.ledauphine.com/drome/2018/10/23/une-meute-de-13-loups-photographiee
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Interesting! I think I'd be a lot more afraid of the dogs than of the wolves. But then, I'm not a sheep!
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@pam w, don't you have Patou / Sheep in your part of the world in the summer, or are the pastures there for cattle, which obviously makes a big difference ?
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Very few sheep in what used to be (but is no longer) my part of the world. Mostly cattle (milk = Beaufort cheese) and a small number of goats. Most of the working dogs seem to be collies.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Its OK unless you are Little Red Riding Hood
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And she got the last laugh.....
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The ones near us in Austria seem to have moved on. Probably two youngsters looking for a pack and territory.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Scarpa wrote:
... Probably two youngsters looking for a pack and territory.


Look closely, many more eyes, article says 13!!
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@Weathercam, I think he meant the Austrian ones.
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@Hells Bells, aaahhhhhh missed that rolling eyes
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The wolves are having interesting knock-on effects on the ecosystem as well - a little like the now famous results of their re-introduction in Yellowstone.

We're now seeing massively more vultures in our area and the farmers are convinced this is down to the wolves. More predators means more carrion means more food for vultures.

We have a breeding pair of bearded vultures in the valley (or we did, sadly one died this Spring) but we are also visited by Griffin vultures and these have become much, much more numerous this summer. I saw as many as 20 circling together on several occasions when it used to be rare to see more than one or two. Incredible sight.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
We've had them (wolves) traveling through Chamonix for a decade or more, but we have some (allegedly) moving on a more permanent basis.
Protected flocks are safe but unprotected ones are having (sometimes major) issues.
As for Patou, they are a regular fixture on the TMB and Hikers Haute route that I guide. They are no problem to a well behaved hiker, even with (well behaved) dogs. But can be very scary and dangerous if you are where you shouldn't be, probably fatal to your dog if it where it shouldn't be. They are generally very well protected by local law enforcement when issues arise.
I am also seeing a rise in the number of Vultures, I've been lucky enough to see bearded vultures up close a few times this summer - Petiti Aiguille vert and above the Col des Aravis. And many times at a distance.
Griffon vultures I've seen mostly around the Col du croix du Bonhomme.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Spent a few weeks in Alleghe, Italian Dolomites last year. Sitting on the veranda we spotted a rough looking mutt strolling around underneath. The more we looked, the more it wasn't a dog or a fox or any other carnivore we recognised. Turned out to be a European Jackal!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Interesting article about Wolves in France

https://www.ledauphine.com/societe/2018/12/28/presence-du-loup-dans-nos-departements-les-questions-que-vous-vous-posez
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Just watching the film La Vallée des loups
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Wolves in France or Italy is a rather boring subject anno 2018
There are currently even wolves settling in The Netherlands! Seriously.
Shortly they'll be venturing into Hook of Holland....wink
But, alas, Brexit...stringent border controls are coming up wink
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We've got a Patterdale that I'd fancy against any pack of wolves.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
A good documentary on wolves in the alps on BBC last night. Iplayer link https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bwqdbg/the-snow-wolf-a-winters-tale
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I watched that documentary. Amazing to see that it went 1000km from Dolomites, via Tirol to the Mont Blanc Massif.
We mentioned wolves in Meribel in Episode 7 of The Ski Podcast, will try to cover it again:
http://theskipodcast.com/podcast/episode-7-wolves-in-meribel-funiculars-andrew-musgrave/
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About 11 years ago now, my son was given a birthday present visiting a wolf sanctuary. We dropped him off on the morning with our dog Meg in the car. I have never seen her behave like that. Normally she was a noisy dog in the car, barking at other dogs, people and anything that moved. In the car at the wolf sanctuary, she knew exactly what to do, stood in complete silence, hackles raised, constantly watching the alpha male at the other side of the fence.
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