Hunting Act: Do Mother Cows Panic Because of Wolves?
Reports of mother cows allegedly panicking because of wolves are multiplying. But cows also defend their calves against dogs and hikers.
Reports of wolves sending entire herds of mother cows into a panic — potentially making them a danger to tourists — are on the rise. It is well known that mother cows defend their calves, and this is in keeping with their natural instinct. However, they defend their calves not only against predators, but also against dogs and, in some cases, hikers and cyclists who come too close to the calves.
Every year there are tragic accidents resulting in fatalities, and not only in areas where wolves are present. Particularly in this unusual COVID year, such incidents could become more frequent, as far more hikers and tourists — some unaccustomed to mountain terrain, and some accompanied by their dogs — are out and about in the Alpine regions. This has nothing to do with the presence of wolves, however. It is important that hikers and cyclists heed the warning signs, keep their dogs on a lead, and give the herd a wide berth — with a truly generous amount of distance.
Stirring Up Sentiment Against the Wolf
During the holiday season, politics slows down. But the battle over the hunting law and the wolf continues behind the scenes. Rather than putting up posters, subtler methods dominate. A concrete opportunity arose with the mysterious death of eight cows in the Melchtal, canton of Obwalden. The herd had panicked and plunged into a ravine. The wolf was immediately placed at the centre of suspicion as a possible culprit. The cantonal authorities announced that there had so far been neither wolf sightings nor corresponding laboratory results.
How do mother cows react when a wolf runs right through the herd or an attack appears imminent?
It is a natural and occasionally occurring situation for wild animals, including wolves, to approach a herd of cows on alpine pastures or even simply pass through without any hunting intent. And it is quite possible that an inexperienced lone wolf might cautiously test its chances with calves. If a threat is perceived, mother cows will vigorously defend their calves and attempt to drive the wolf away, with individual cows deliberately charging at it. Most other cows in the herd, however, will remain calm and observe the situation. Once the wolf has been driven off, the cows will resume grazing.This behavior is a deliberate defense of their young and has nothing to do with panic! Such natural defensive reactions are also limited in duration and fully subside once the threat has disappeared.
A herd of mother cows in panic looks very different. Panic triggers reckless, mindless flight behavior — not the defensive behavior seen in response to a predator's presence. Causes of panic can include, for example, a thunderstorm with lightning and hail.
In general, wolves have very little real chance of catching a healthy calf and tend to avoid the dangerous defensive reaction of the mother cows. It is important, however, that calvings do not take place on alpine pastures. Freshly born calves — and especially the afterbirths — can attract wolves. Since cows typically give birth somewhat apart from the herd and the mother is often still too weak shortly after birth to effectively defend her calf, attack attempts could occur in such situations, writes the associationCHWOLF based in Einsiedeln.
