The natural resettlement of wolvesin Normandy: after an absence of a century, what place for wolves among humans?

• Main Author: Méheust, Clémence
• Other Authors: Université de Caen Normandie - UFR de Sciences Économiques, Gestion, Géographie et Aménagement des Territoires (UNICAEN UFR SEGGAT), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU), Olivier Cantat
• Format: Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2021
• Subjects: Élevage; Wolf; Normandy; Multi-use territories; Field investigation; Large predator; Wildlife; Countryside; Agriculture and livestock; Environment; Loup; Relations homme-animal; Déprédations des animaux sauvages; Normandie (France); Seine-Maritime (France); Grand prédateur; Faune sauvage; Paysage; Agriculture; hist; archi; Retour; Canis lupus; gray wolf; loup gris
• Online Access: https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-03540584/file/Memoire%20Clemence%20Meheust.pdf; https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-03540584

The aim of this thesisis to explain the presence of the Wolf in Normandy and the place of this major predator alongside agricultural and human activities. Our study is located in Seine-Maritime, since the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) chose to return to Normandy on the land of the Brayonne, after an absence of a century (from November 2019 to February 2021).The first chapter revisits the historical presence of the Wolf in Normandy and provides some answers concerning its return and the way in which it is perceived. Across several disciplines and time periods, we try to understand the reasons behind the conflicting relationship between humans and Wolves. In chapters 2 and 3, we report on our field survey amongst different territorial stakeholders who are directly affected by the reappearance of the wolf, including professional breeders and owners of sheep, judicial authorities, environmental protection associations, agricultural and hunting activities, forestry and others. This research seeks to provide an analysis and cross-examination of the issues surrounding the return of the wolf to Normandy. The last part of this research paper examines the complexity of the wolf's return in context of the territorial plain. If there are means of protecting herds in mountain areas, are they applicable to Normandy? To answer this question, we reflect upon certain devices and present the interventions tested in eastern France where the Wolf made its return to the Lorraine plains in 2013. Ce mémoire prospectif a pour objectif d’essayer d’expliquer la présence du loup en Normandie et d’étudier la façon d’envisager la place de ce grand prédateur aux côtés des activités agricoles et humaines. Notre terrain d’étude se situe en Seine-Maritime, puisque c’est sur les terres brayonnes que le loup gris (Canis lupus) a choisi de faire son retour en Normandie, après un siècle d’absence (de novembre 2019 à février 2021). Le premier chapitre revient sur la présence historique du loup en Normandie et apporte des pistes de réponse quant à son ...