In Upper Austria, the number of wolf kills is currently still very manageable. Only two have been confirmed by DNA this year, both of which involved killing wild animals. Much more often the fox is the “culprit”. Nevertheless, one is vigilant after the wolf attack in Langschlag, Lower Austria, especially in Liebenau in the Mühlviertel, just a few kilometers away, where wolf sightings are repeatedly reported. So far there is no shooting permit.
hunters informed
As a result of the wolf tear in the Waldviertel, the state informed the hunters and asked them to monitor more closely how the game and grazing cattle behaved in the coming days, according to the agriculture department of Provincial Councilor Michaela Langer-Weninger (ÖVP). It is still unclear whether it is a passing loner or a pack.
The fact that people in Upper Austria are now so vigilant, despite the previously manageable wolf problem, has to do with the geographical proximity to the Waldviertel, where four sheep were recently killed by a wolf, but also with the behavior of the animals. Once the adults have established that it is easier to prey on grazing animals than on wild animals, they pass this on to the puppies, says Wolfgang Sollberger, wolf officer for the Mühlviertel. In Upper Austria, however, wolves have apparently tended to stick more to wild animals, as a state listing shows.
Six cases in 2020
In 2020, six incidents were reported in which the polluter was confirmed by DNA, all in the south of the state. A total of five wild animals and three sheep or lambs were killed. In 2021 there were significantly more suspected cases, mostly in the Alps, but sometimes also in the Mühlviertel. Genetic evidence was ultimately provided in only five cases, while nine turned out to be fox tears. In 2021, the wolf was responsible for an injured young cattle, game fell victim to it three times and even another wolf once. However, six dead grazing animals were attributed to the fox. In some other cases, genetic proof was no longer possible.
More sightings this year than last year
According to the state’s list, there were more sightings this year than in previous years – wolves have already been seen or their tracks found almost 20 times – but so far only two wolf kills have been confirmed, both in wild animals. It is striking that most of the observations and both cracks took place in the Mühlviertel. The most common indications of wolves are along the border with Lower Austria. Sollberger attributes most of the sightings to young animals that have to leave their pack shortly before they reach sexual maturity and are now looking for territory.
In April of this year, headlines were made by video recordings of a supposed wolf crossing a main road in Sarleinsbach (Rohrbach district):
Source: Nachrichten
