Val Fex: When the Herd Protection Concept Has More Holes Than the Fence
On 21 August 2025, wildlife wardens were called to a sheep alpine pasture in Val Fex (municipality of Sils im Engadin) after a predator attack had been reported.
On site, wildlife wardens from the cantonal authority in Graubünden confirmed a wolf attack.
Eleven animals were killed outright. A further 26 injured sheep had to be euthanised due to severe bite injuries. In total, 37 animals were affected, reports srf.ch (Wolf attack in Fex valley: 37 sheep attacked, protection failed).
The events once again raise fundamental questions about herd protection: Were there sufficient livestock guardian dogs, and if so, how many and with what level of experience? According to an RTR report from 2022, at that time a single shepherdess was caring for around 900 sheep — already with a documented wolf attack on record. This year, according to information from the Engadiner Post, the number is “only” 700. Such a supervision ratio would be barely manageable even for experienced herders, and practically impossible for a single individual without livestock guardian dogs.
The herd of around 700 animals was located on the alpine pasture Muot Selvas, where it was due to spend the final week of the alpine season. Initial reports stating that the animals had been protected by a fence were not confirmed. Thorough investigations established that no effective herd protection measures were in place at the time of the attack. A perimeter fence that was present served only to guide the herd and was not closed. Livestock guardian dogs or wolf-deterrent fencing were not provided for in this grazing sector according to the operational concept.
In response to the incident, the alpine season on the affected pasture was ended prematurely and the remaining sheep were brought back down to the valley.
The authorities and interest groups also responded.Adrian Arquint, head of the Office for Hunting and Nonsense Graubünden, spoke to the media of a “major event” and emphasized that protective measures could reach their limits despite the herd protection concept. The Farmers' Association Oberengadin stated through President Gian Suter that they accepted the wolf in principle. Problems would arise, however, when the number of animals increased and existing protective measures were no longer sufficient.
The problem is not the wolf, but the deficiencies in herd protection. Critics point out that the wildlife wardens assessed the kills as wolf attacks, even though the animal owners had apparently lost track of their herds over an extended period of time.
Experts and animal welfare organizations see the real problem not with the wolf, but in systemic deficiencies in herd protection. Effective protection requires attentive shepherds, functioning night enclosures, adequate fencing, and competently deployed livestock guardian dogs. Everything else is symbolic politics.
Despite these shortcomings, the Office for Hunting and Fishing Graubünden responded with a 60-day shooting permit — timed precisely to coincide with the start of the high hunting season at the beginning of September. Critics regard this as counterproductive policy that makes the wolf a scapegoat while structural weaknesses in pastoral farming remain unaddressed. The shooting is to be carried out by the cantonal wildlife wardens or by hobby hunters within the framework of the Graubünden high hunting season.
Federal politics also sees itself under obligation. The minimum requirements set by SVP Federal Councillor Albert Rösti on herd protection are inadequate, according to experts. Without clear legal obligations and consistent herd protection, the coexistence of livestock and wolves will continue to be problematic.
The incidents in Oberengadin demonstrate: the protection of livestock does not depend solely on the behavior of the wolf, but crucially on the implementation of protective measures. As long as these gaps persist, the conflict between agriculture and predators will remain a perennial issue — which certain circles apparently desire.
Every chicken owner protects their animals from the fox. How much longer will it take before sheep farmers grasp the concept?
