Within four weeks

Hunters may shoot problem wolf in Rauris

Last Sunday, a wolf was killed in Rauris. Nine sheep died and several others were injured. Now the province of Salzburg has decided: Before the wolf causes any more damage, it may soon be shot.

"Based on the bite pattern, we can clearly say that this is a wolf," said Salzburg wolf commissioner Hubert Stock at the beginning of the week.

Reason enough for the province of Salzburg to release the animal for "removal", as the shooting by a hunter is known in technical jargon.

As the wolf has been classified as a "harmful animal" by experts, shooting will be permitted in the game regions adjacent to the affected alpine pasture area in Rauris.

There, problem wolves can be removed within a ten-kilometer radius of the last livestock kill within four weeks. The four-week period starts again for each new incident.