It was on Wednesday evening that two Shetland ponies were killed in a wolf attack in Ununge between Edsbro and Skebobruk in Norrtälje municipality. Something like the magazine Equestrian sports who was the first to report.
Now the county administrative board recommends all animal owners in the area to keep their animals inside, especially during the night.
– Right now our staff is on site at the farm and setting up extra protective wire around the paddocks, says Sara Sundin, unit manager at the wildlife management department at the county administrative board, to TV4 Nyheterna.
Wolf appeared
The County Administrative Board came to the scene later on Wednesday and is said to have then observed the wolves trying to get back to the killed horses.
– We could establish that both horses had been killed by wolves, says Sara Sundin.
At the site next to the horse paddock, the County Administrative Board’s staff saw a wolf running away.
Investigating the possibility of protective hunting
After several fatal sheep attacks in the area, the county board decided at the beginning of October last year on protective hunting in an area north of Norrtälje.
– The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has decided on new guidelines regarding protective hunting, and these are the guidelines we need to adhere to when it comes to protective hunting, says Sara Sundin.
The hunt ran between 9 and 31 October, but was never extended.
Now after Wednesday’s attack, the county administrative board is looking at the possibility of re-introducing protective hunting.
– We look at the conditions, and deal with it quickly, says Sundin.
Residents worried
The residents of the area that TV4 Nyheterna spoke to express a concern for future wolf attacks.
Helene Wijk, who lives in the area, owns 21 sheep. Among other things, she has strengthened the fence around the farm, but despite this is not entirely sure if she can continue to keep her animals.
– I expect to quit, this is no longer working. We have the sheep locked in, but it is not certain that the doors will hold, says sheep owner Helene Wijk, who lives in the area and has 21 sheep.
– It is very unpleasant, she continues.