The "I'm Not Afraid of the Wolf" APS association has sent an open letter to journalist Michele Serra, signed by its president, Daniele Ecotti, in response to his recent post on the death of his dog Osso. This personal yet public letter draws on the real-life story of a former farmer who experienced firsthand the challenges of mountain farming, bringing the debate about wolves to a broader, more complex, and more grounded in reality.
"It wasn't the wolves that made me close down. It was a system that over the years has made it increasingly difficult to make a living from agriculture and livestock farming in the mountains.", writes Ecotti, recalling how the crises currently affecting mountain areas have deep roots, predating the return of the wolf.
The letter acknowledges and respects the grief of losing a pet, while underscoring a point often overlooked in public debate: the presence of wolves poses real risks that can and must be managed. “A dog left free and uncontrolled, especially in areas with a stable wolf presence, is exposed to a real risk”, we read in the text. This reflection isn't intended to cast blame, but rather to introduce a fundamental principle: coexistence requires responsibility, including individual responsibility.
One of the central passages of the letter concerns the criticism of simplified narratives. "The point isn't to deny the problems. The point is not to talk about simple solutions where simple solutions don't exist." According to the association, reducing the conflict with wolves to a numerical issue—"too many wolves"—risks being misleading and ineffective. The removal of some individuals, in the absence of adequate prevention measures, doesn't solve the problem but merely shifts it in time and space.
The letter highlights an often overlooked factor: the wolf's return is occurring in already fragile territories. Depopulation, the decline of small-scale agriculture, and the decline of local services and economies preceded the predator's stable presence. In this context, the wolf is not the cause, but rather a factor that exacerbates an already existing crisis.
The association reiterates its position: coexistence is not an abstract formula, but a concrete process that requires tools, investment, and change. Prevention and effective support for breeders, structured and updated monitoring, management of attractants, targeted interventions in critical cases, information, and widespread responsibility are essential elements for building true coexistence. "Cohabitation isn't free. It requires commitment, sacrifice, and adaptation from everyone." Ecotti underlines.
The letter concludes with a clear call: prevent painful episodes from becoming tools for simplification. In a context already marked by violence, misinformation, and polarization, the role of those with public visibility is crucial. “We use pain to demand more responsibility: more government, more prevention, more knowledge.”, is the final message.