A lone wolf has reappeared in Solsonès, central Catalonia, causing three attacks on livestock in La Molsosa and Pinós after an absence of nearly seven years. The incidents, which started at the beginning of the year, resulted in the deaths of 42 sheep and lambs, according to local reports.
Two of the attacks occurred at a livestock farm in La Molsosa, where sheep graze in an eight-hectare enclosure. In one episode, ten animals died, and in another, twelve. Most deaths were due to asphyxiation and crushing as the sheep fled the predator, officials said. Some ewes also suffered miscarriages due to stress.
The third attack, which claimed around twenty victims, targeted a flock grazing unprotected in the mountains of Pinós. Xavier Vilalta, the mayor of Pinós, stated, "The Generalitat cannot wash its hands of this: if it protects the species, it must bear the consequences."
Official Response and Farmer Support
In response, the affected farmer has received compensation for the lost sheep and lambs. The Generalitat also supplied an electric shepherd, an electrified fence designed to deter predators, which is installed at night to provide secure overnight shelter for the livestock.
Initial investigations by Rural Agents first suggested dogs were responsible for the attacks. However, after necropsies were performed on the animals with bite marks and DNA from the attacker was analysed, evidence pointed to a single wolf as the perpetrator, officials confirmed.
Following the confirmation of the wolf's involvement, which occurred approximately two months ago, Pinós town council issued a statement to warn residents about the potential presence of a wolf in the area. Most livestock farms in the municipality, apart from the one attacked, are intensive operations located in enclosed barns.
Understanding Wolf Behaviour
Wolves are typically social animals. Solitary wolves usually fit one of two profiles: young individuals, under three years old, searching for a mate to establish their own pack, or adult animals expelled from their pack after a change in hierarchy, according to wildlife experts.
Recent Wolf Sightings and Attacks in Catalonia
Wolf attacks on livestock have been recorded in other parts of Catalonia in recent years. In 2024, a wolf caused the deaths of eight sheep and one goat in Creueta de Boumort, Conca de Dalt (Jussà). There were also two attacks in Alt Empordà, three in Osona, and one in Moianès.
In 2023, no wolf attacks on livestock were registered in Lleida, though incidents occurred in La Garrotxa (one), Moianès (one), and Alt Empordà (three). The year 2022 saw two cases in Lleida: two goats died in Gespeguera, Fígols i Alinyà (Alt Urgell), and one sheep was injured in Antist, La Torre de Capdella (Jussà). Additionally, three attacks were reported in Moianès and one in Alt Empordà.
Despite these wolf incidents, dogs remain the primary cause of livestock attacks in Lleida, accounting for 28 incidents over the past three years, according to official data. The reappearance of the wolf in Solsonès highlights ongoing challenges for farmers and local authorities in managing wildlife interactions and protecting livestock in Catalonia.
