Bear, wolf or fox: sheep kills cause a stir in the canton of Uri

Dead sheep in the canton of Uri are sparking a lively debate about the reliability of DNA evidence.

After a fatal attack in early August in the Göscheneralptal, the wolf was the prime suspect — yet the DNA analysis pointed to a fox, while a bear was caught on a camera trap.

DNA analysis pointed to a fox

Two sheep were killed on 11 August in the Wandflueseeli area in the municipality of Göschenen, and three more had to be put down due to their injuries. The shepherds then drove the entire flock down into the valley.

The DNA taken from the carcasses was attributed to a fox. “For me, it was one hundred percent a bear,” said livestock owner Hannes Bissig. One of the freshly killed sheep had a scratch on its head and had been torn open along its side. Furthermore, the 120-kilogram animal had been dragged away in one piece. He therefore set up a camera trap near the carcass, and a bear did indeed walk into it.

The fact that the DNA analysis pointed to a fox was not unusual, said hunting warden Josef Walker. It was likely a case of a secondary user of the carcass — a fox would not be capable of killing a sheep of that size.

Livestock protection against bears is very demanding

“I question how reliable the DNA samples are,” said shepherd Bissig. The flow of information needed to be improved — for example, when there was knowledge of a bear in the area. If a bear were permanently present, one might as well abandon herd protection measures altogether.

Walker confirmed that livestock protection against bears is very demanding. But whether it is a wolf or a bear, the compensation paid to owners for killed animals is the same.

A bear had already been spotted in the canton of Uri in spring. In 2017, a bear damaged a beehive in Silenen. More on wildlife and the hunting law.