NOS News•today, 1:21 PM•Adjusted today, 2:21 PM
A wolf squeezed through a badger pipe in a fence on the Veluwe. Images show how the animal crawls through a narrow tube with a diameter of 30 centimeters.
The fence is intended to keep boars out, but to allow badgers through. The wolf now also took advantage of this. Glenn Lelieveld of the Mammal Society speaks of unique images. “We have known for some time that a wolf can do this, but it has never been captured so spectacularly.”
“When you see the wolf standing in front of the pipe, you think it will never fit, but he does it without much effort.”
The wolf crawls through the pipe:
Wolf squeezes through badger pipe
According to Lelieveld, wolf experts in surrounding countries are also impressed. They have never seen it this way before.
The advice to install badger pipes had been on the list of wolf-resistant measures for some time, but the Gelderland Wolf Commission has tightened the measures in response to the images. The tube must be made slightly narrower: 25 centimeters in diameter instead of the current 30 centimeters.
It is also advisable to place two 45 degree bends in the pipes. Badgers can go through the pipe without any problems, but it is impossible for the wolf.
Deviation from standard size
Badgers dig tunnels on their regular routes that they use from generation to generation. Closing a tunnel is of no use, because they dig it up again themselves. Wolves enlarge tunnels dug by badgers. If those tunnels are replaced by tubes, a wolf will no longer be able to use them.
A wolf would rather dig under a fence than have to jump over it. According to Lelieveld, a small opening can be enough. “Anyone who wants to keep wolves away should be aware of this.”
When roads are constructed, tunnel tubes for animals are taken into account. According to Lelieveld, a standard size is used there. That is not a problem in most cases, but it is if you also use that standard size for anti-wolf measures. “They are of no use then.” His advice is to deviate from the standard size.
2024-04-08 11:21:10
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