Wolf pack attack leads to 54 dead ewes and eight injured in French Alps

On the night of October 8, a wolf pack entered the high-altitude pasture of Fauge near Villard-de-Lans in the Vercors, where roughly 450 sheep were grazing. The Isère prefecture reported that 54 ewes died, of which about 15 were killed outright by the wolves while the others died from suffocation after panicking and crowding into a hollow. Eight more sheep suffered serious injuries, including throat wounds.

Despite protective measures such as guard dogs, electric fencing, and flashing lights, the wolves overcame the defenses. The farmer’s brother stayed overnight with the surviving flock to guard against a possible return. Helicopters later removed the carcasses from the rugged terrain to protect downstream water sources.