No droppings or night games in Léglise: wolf keeps scouts out of the forest

The mayor of the Belgian village of Léglise has prohibited all nighttime activities for scout camps, a measure taken after a wolf recently killed several sheep in the region. The ban impacts around 20 camps scheduled for this summer, forbidding scouts from entering the forest between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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All experts say that it is unlikely that anything will happen. But if I ask if they can guarantee me that there is no risk whatsoever for young people walking alone in the forest, no one wants to put their signature on the message 'go ahead, proceed'.

Mayor Simon Huberty explained his decision to RTBF, stating that while experts deem a wolf encounter unlikely, no one can guarantee zero risk for young people walking alone in the woods. The measure has immediate consequences for scout leader Emile Demelenne, who had planned evening activities like setting up ambushes along forest paths.

The decision marks the first time a Walloon municipality has banned nighttime activities due to a wolf's presence. The scouting federation, however, questions the targeted nature of the ban. "We don't understand why similar measures aren't taken for other groups or hikers to ensure their safety," said spokesperson Gilles Beckers.

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We will have to adapt the program for our evening activities. We were actually planning to set up ambushes along the forest paths.

Biologists emphasize the low probability of wolf attacks on humans, noting that such incidents have never occurred in Belgium. Experts also point out that the risk of being bitten by a dog or attacked by a wild boar, or even being hit by a falling tree branch, is significantly higher than encountering a dangerous wolf. In Europe over the past 20 years, there have been a total of 9 wolf-related incidents, all resulting in non-fatal bites, compared to hundreds of dog bites in the same period.

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We don't understand why similar measures aren't taken for other groups or hikers to ensure their safety.