In recent years, the wolf has made a comeback in Europe. In many areas, this is causing concern among farmers and the general public. There is also growing attention in European politics to the impact of the wolf on agriculture and the environment. In 2025, the wolf’s protection status was therefore changed from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. This change gives Member States more scope to manage the population and respond to local situations. At the same time, there remains room in Europe for the wolf as part of the ecosystem, and it is unlikely that it will disappear from the wild. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to focus on creating sustainable and safe pastures for grazers and livestock using wolf-proof fences.
Behaviour of the wolf
The most common wolf in Europe is the European wolf (Canis lupus lupus). This wolf generally lives in packs. After a few years, young wolves leave their pack in search of their own territory. These ‘wandering wolves’ generally cause the most problems in Europe.
Wolves in packs hunt in groups. Wandering wolves do this alone. These wolves choose the easiest prey. They aim for maximum results by taking as little risk as possible. When a wolf approaches a fence, the animal first checks whether there is a way to go under it. If this fails, it will look for ways to get through the mesh. With a few exceptions, wolves prefer not to jump over electrified fences. This is because wolves are extremely cautious animals and take as little risk as possible of being injured or trapped. Precisely because wolves look for the easiest way in, a well-designed and correctly installed fence is essential.
What makes a fence wolf-proof?
Keeping wild animals such as wolves out requires a specialist approach. Gallagher has extensive global experience in developing fencing solutions to keep out wildlife and protect livestock. In doing so, Gallagher supports authorities in drawing up and implementing guidelines for keeping out wild animals such as wolves.
Based on this expertise and practical experience, Gallagher has developed clear guidelines for a wolf-proof fence. But what actually makes a fence wolf-proof?
Based on practical experience and generally accepted principles for keeping wild animals out, Gallagher recommends that a fence should meet at least the following conditions to be wolf-proof:
- The fence must be at least 1.20m high throughout
- The bottom electric fence wire must be no more than 20 cm above the ground
- At least 5 live wires in the fence
- Voltage on the fence: at least 4500 volts (4.5 kV)
- Ensure the fence is taut and completely closed with no weak spots.
- If using a solar-powered energiser, choose a model with a game mode.
Gallagher recommends using blue electric fence tape for the top wire. The blue colour is highly visible to wild animals such as wolves.
In many European regions, subsidy schemes are available for making fences wolf-proof. The conditions and options vary by country and region. You should therefore check with local authorities regarding the current schemes.
Common mistakes in a wolf-proof fence
In many situations, improvements can be made to make the fence more wolf-proof. After all, a fence is only as strong as its weakest link. The wolf looks for the easiest way in and, once found, will attempt to enter. But what are the most common mistakes? Or rather, what else should you look out for with a wolf-proof fence?
- Ensure that the access gate is also secured. It must be live at all times. As mentioned earlier, the wolf always looks for the weakest link in the fence.
- Ensure you have a sufficiently powerful device suitable for repelling wild animals. A device that is too weak can result in insufficient voltage on the fence. When using a solar-powered energiser, it is important that it has a game mode.
- Ensure that there is sufficient voltage across the fence at all times. Vegetation growing against the wires can dissipate the current and reduce the voltage. You should therefore check regularly that there is at least 4.5 kV on the fence.
- Ensure that the fence is high enough throughout. In some situations, even lower fences are used, but in practice a fence 90 cm high offers less protection against wolves.
- Take uneven ground into account. If this is not taken into account, gaps will form in places where the wolf can crawl under the fence. It is important that the bottom wire is no more than 20 cm above the ground at all times.
- Also ensure there is a fence along the water’s edge. Wolves can swim and do not view water as a barrier.
Solutions from Gallagher
Gallagher offers solutions to protect livestock from wolves in a variety of situations. Gallagher’s special wolf white paper showcases various types of wolf-proof fences, including permanent, semi-permanent and mobile fences.
Wolf white paperWould you like to know how to make your fences wolf-proof? Request a free consultation via the website now. With the right solution, you can enjoy peace of mind and security, knowing that you have done everything possible to protect your animals from wolves.