These incidents, which have occurred since the beginning of the year, have caused the death of 22 sheep on a farm in La Molsosa, where the animals grazed in an eight-hectare enclosure. The losses were mainly due to asphyxiation and crushing while fleeing the predator, and some sheep suffered pregnancy interruptions due to stress.
A third attack, which resulted in the loss of about twenty animals, occurred against a flock grazing freely in the mountains of Pinós. Initially, investigations by the Rural Agents pointed to dogs as possible perpetrators, but necropsies and DNA analysis confirmed that the same wolf specimen was responsible for the attacks.
“"The Generalitat cannot wash its hands: if it protects the species, it must bear the consequences."
Following the confirmation of the wolf's involvement, the Pinós town council issued a statement to alert residents about the possible presence of the animal in the area. The affected farmer has received compensation for the losses and has been provided with an electric fence to protect the livestock.
Most of the livestock farms in the municipality of Pinós are intensive and located in enclosed barns, with the exception of the affected farmer's. Solitary wolves are usually young specimens looking to form a new pack or adults that have been expelled from their group.
These incidents in Solsonès contrast with the absence of recorded attacks in Lleida during 2023. However, there were cases in other Catalan regions such as Garrotxa, Moianès, and Alt Empordà. In 2022, two attacks were documented in Alt Urgell and Pallars Jussà, in addition to others in Moianès and Alt Empordà. It should be noted that dogs continue to be the main cause of livestock attacks in the province of Lleida.
