In a dramatic display of frustration and defiance, farmers in eastern France have divided public opinion after resorting to an unusual method to remove squatters from their land: spraying them with a manure mixture.

The incident took place in the Hautes-Vosges region, where over 500 squatters—part of a traveling community—had set up camp in around 200 caravans on grazing land without permission. After days of inaction from local authorities, a group of farmers decided to take matters into their own hands.

Videos that quickly went viral showed tractors circling the encampment and unleashing powerful sprays of manure and water. While some viewers found the tactic shocking, others praised the farmers for standing up for their property rights.

“This is what happens when the system doesn’t protect landowners,” one supporter commented online. “They were left with no other choice.”

Critics, however, have called the method cruel and dehumanizing. “There are laws for a reason,” said a local rights advocate. “Taking justice into your own hands is a slippery slope, especially when it targets vulnerable communities.”

A civil court has since ruled in favor of the farmers, ordering the squatters to vacate within 24 hours or face removal by law enforcement and daily fines. France’s Interior Ministry responded swiftly, promising to introduce a legislative package by September aimed at tightening regulations on illegal settlements and increasing penalties for unauthorized occupation and environmental damage.

As the debate continues, the incident has become a symbol of growing tension in rural France—where landowners feel abandoned by the system and squatters often have nowhere else to go. It has also sparked national conversation about property rights, legal enforcement, and the limits of protest.

Whether seen as a justified act of self-defense or an aggressive overreaction, one thing is clear: the video has stirred both outrage and admiration across the country and beyond.