First aid after Wolfsriss as a result of the international project WolfAlpsEU in collaboration between HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and the Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, Lynx.

The events

On Monday, June 7, 2021, a predator emergency team was deployed for the first time. The previous weekend there was a cracking incident in the area of ​​the Schafburg agricultural community in Hundsdorf (municipality of Rauris, Salzburg).

The result: As a result of the crack and the subsequent panic in the sheep herd, around 60 animals were partially damaged or lost. The remaining animals (approx. 90) were taken to a safe valley pasture.

Alerting and deployment

The emergency team was alerted after discussions on site by the representative of the District Chamber of Farmers St. Johann / Pg.- Johann Huber, the wolf representative of the state of Salzburg-Hubert Stock and the chairman of the Austrian Center for Bear, Wolf, Luchs (ÖZ)-Klaus Pogadl 3 p.m. The team, consisting of Reinhard Huber team leader and Daniel Entrance ( HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) as well as two employees from the Enns-Paltental machine ring, set off for the operational area at around 4 p.m.

That same evening, the pen into which the remaining sheep had been brought was secured with a flock protection fence. The necessary material is part of the emergency team's equipment.

Due to the high number of missing animals, it was decided to carry out the search the following day (Tuesday) using a drone with a thermal imaging camera from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. Reinhard Huber and Andreas Klingler ( HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) as well as an employee of the Enns-Paltental machine ring were involved. Ten live animals were seen through the camera. Due to fog and the difficult terrain, the search was only possible to a limited extent. The animals were very frightened and so only one animal could be caught, the rest fled into inaccessible areas.

Predator Emergency Response Team

Task: to help affected owners and shepherds after a crack quickly, unbureaucratically and with the appropriate specialist knowledge and equipment. After being alerted, the team must arrive at the scene as quickly as possible, assess the situation from the perspective of herd protection, prevent further attacks if possible and pass on information to neighboring pasture areas. Specific measures include, among other things, setting up herd protection fences, rounding up scattered animals, or even helping with a possible premature abortion. The team brings the necessary material and special equipment with them.

The idea, setting up and training of these emergency teams takes place as part of the international project WolfAlpsEU, co-financed by the EU as part of the LIFE program. The HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein is active in Austria together with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.

The Austrian Center Bear, Wolf, Lynx, a supporter of the WolfAlpsEU project, is working with the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein on the long-term establishment of carnivore emergency teams in Austria and coordinates the operations. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (member of the Austrian Bear, Wolf, Lynx Center) has provided financial support. This means there are no costs for the farmers affected.

The collaboration

Austria Center Bear, Wolf, Lynx

As an association, the Austrian Bear, Wolf, Lynx Center makes a significant contribution to ensuring that coexistence with large predators is as conflict-free as possible, taking into account public interests as well as the interests of the land users affected and the rest of the population. In cooperation between the federal government, the states and numerous interest groups, solution strategies and concrete options for action are developed, further developed and their implementation supported throughout Germany.

Web: https://baer-wolf-luchs.at - https://baer-wolf-luchs.at/presse.htm

HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

The Higher Federal Teaching and Research Institute for Agriculture Raumberg-Gumpenstein, with its headquarters in Irdning-Donnersbachtal (Liezen district, Styria), is an office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT) and the driving force in research and development for rural areas Power for sustainable business in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors.

Web: https://www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at

The LIFE project WolfAlpsEU

In the LIFE WolfAlps EU project, an international team of institutions is working to reduce the impact of wolves on livestock, find a balance between hunting and the presence of large carnivores, counter the illegal persecution of wolves, solve problems related to wolves and to cope with human challenges and disseminate correct information based on scientific data. Further information about the project can be found at http://www.lifewolfalps.eu/de/

contact

Emergency team operations manager:

Reinhard Huber - This email address is protected from spambots! JavaScript must be enabled to display.

Austria Center Bear, Wolf, Lynx (Managing Director): Albin Blaschka - This email address is protected from spambots! JavaScript must be enabled to display.