Increase in the rate of predation, new regulations on defense shootings… On the occasion of a press conference held on March 30th in Tulle, the Prefect of Corrèze, Vincent Berton, unveiled the new regulatory framework governing the relationship between wolves and breeders on the Millevaches plateau.
Since 2022, the wolf has been a hot topic in Corrèze. The increase in attacks on sheep flocks and the presence of a pack, by summer 2025, on the Millevaches plateau have prompted Vincent Berton, Prefect of Corrèze, to declare on March 30th: “We are facing a colonization front. This is what makes the situation particularly tense and complex.”
The representative of the state spoke at a press conference to explain the content of an interministerial decree which, starting from April 1st, 2026, will establish a new regulatory framework for wolf protection.
The defense shooting, previously subject to prefectural authorization, will now operate under a “declarative regime”. Breeders must make a declaration on the demarche.numerique.gouv.fr website, receiving a receipt allowing them to carry out these defense shootings. Last year, they were allowed to carry out 30 shootings. The new regulation increases this number to 234.
The new regulation on defense shootings applies to sheep and goat herds located in zones 0, 1, and 2 (see map below). The intervention framework remains strictly regulated. Shootings must be carried out near flocks at risk of predation. Target identification is mandatory before any shooting, especially at night. Baiting is prohibited. The Prefect reminds that “Hunting wolves is a crime.”
“This is the consequence of downgrading the wolf status from ‘strictly protected species’ to ‘protected species’,” explains the state representative to the media. This downgrade has been in effect since 2025 and resulted from a decision at the European level.
The new version of the regulatory framework will allow, from July 2026, the implementation of removal shootings in cases of “exceptional predation situations” coupled with “ineffective defense shootings”. Nationally, the wolf removal rate has been increased from 19% to 21%, representing 227 individuals.
“We hope these measures will provide better protection for the herds,” assures Vincent Berton, noting that “2025 was an extremely tough year, with a threefold increase in predation acts, a very tense situation for breeders, some of whom are traumatized.”
Regarding the potential reactions from breeders following these changes, the Prefect states: “I trust the breeders’ sense of responsibility and republican spirit.” The possibility of defense shootings is expected to involve around fifty breeders on the Millevaches plateau.
I trust in their loyalty and discipline.
Vincent BertonPrefect of Corrèze
On the tense plateau, the Prefect relies on the increased number of wolf hunters, now totaling 33. Vincent Berton also highlights the presence of the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), which includes the Corrèze brigade and a wolf brigade. Additionally, he mentions the mobile gendarmerie brigade.
Furthermore, the compensation rules are evolving. In zone 1, compensation remains subject to the implementation of protection measures after a certain number of attacks. This principle is now extended to zone 2, as at least one protective measure must be implemented after the second attack to qualify for compensation.
