Local sightings

Danger for hikers: wolf makes cows “nervous”

The wolf poses a threat to livestock - and indirectly also to humans.(Bild: Johann Groder)

In the Waldviertel region, predators repeatedly roam around farms. Instinct-driven grazing animals could then become a danger for hikers. Warning signs point this out.

The wolf has already targeted Anita Herzog's animals twice in Rammelhof near Arbesbach in the Waldviertel, says the suckler cow farmer. People in the Zwettl district have been dealing with wolves for years, but they have not learned to live with them, quite the opposite: there are increasing reports of sightings close to the area.

"But nobody reports them. And that is a big problem," emphasize Gerhard Fallent, chairman of the Wolfstopp initiative, and FPÖ MPs Hubert Keyl and Alexander Schnabel. Reporting to the authorities is important in order to draw attention to the proximity of predators.

Farmer Herzog (left) and Fallent (right) put up the first wolf warning sign with FPÖ politicians.(Bild: René Denk)

200 wolf area warning signs have now been sponsored by the FPÖ. "It's about liability issues. We all know cases of farmers who have been taken to court because of instinct-driven grazing animals," explains Fallent. Farm animals in the Waldviertel are more restless and afraid because of "wolf experiences".

Signs are free of charge 
"That means it's more dangerous for hikers near the pastures. We want to take preventative measures to warn strangers to be even more careful around cows, sheep and horses." The signs are to be offered free of charge throughout the state and even nationwide.