Wildlife ranger shoots sick young wolf
On 3 July 2018, wildlife rangers in Graubünden were forced to shoot a sick young wolf. The animal was suffering from encephalitis, as an examination revealed. The cause of the brain disease is not yet known.
On 3 July 2018, wildlife rangers in Graubünden were forced to shoot a sick young wolf. The animal was suffering from encephalitis, as an examination revealed. The cause of the brain disease is not yet known.
Atypical behaviour observed
The wolf in question was a male animal, most likely born the previous year. Based on the observed symptoms, it had to be assumed that it was suffering from distemper or another disorder of the central nervous system. The animal was active during daylight hours, which is atypical for a wolf. It was apathetic, showed no wariness whatsoever, and did not respond to calls. The young wolf moved continuously in circles, and its gait revealed an injury to its right hind leg. Furthermore, the animal had a swollen face and its eyes were frequently closed, indicating a high sensitivity to light — a further symptom of illness.
This was not a new sight for the wildlife rangers, as in the preceding half-year alone, within the Herrschaft-Seewis supervision district, they had been forced to shoot around 20 animals suffering from distemper — in addition to foxes and badgers, this had also included a raccoon.
Encephalitis confirmed, distemper ruled out
The animal was immediately taken to the Centre for Fish and Wildlife Medicine (FIWI) at the University of Bern. Examination of the deceased animal found no evidence of the distemper virus. Rabies was also ruled out on the basis of negative test results. However, the animal had a clearly identifiable case of encephalitis. The laboratory findings are consistent with the clinical symptoms observed in the field.
A heartworm infestation (Dirofilaria) was also detected. This is the first time such a finding has been confirmed in a wolf in Switzerland. The examined animal also showed a high parasite burden in the intestines and lungs.
This case demonstrates how important it is to report animals with abnormal behavior to the wildlife authority without delay. The ongoing genetic analysis may shed light on whether the young wolf originates from the Calanda or the Morobbia pack. More on wildlife.
