Outdoor Activities: Coexisting with Wildlife

Now is the time again for outdoor activities.

More and more people are pursuing leisure activities in nature: mountain biking, paragliding, hiking or water sports. In doing so, they often forget that our natural environment is also a habitat for wild animals. Their retreat areas are becoming scarce. Tips from Swiss Animal Protection STS for a compatible coexistence.

In a 2019 survey, 68% of Swiss respondents stated that they had engaged in sport in nature over the previous twelve months. 47% had been out on hiking trails. It is not inherently bad for wild animals when people exercise outdoors. However, it depends on where, when, and how animal- and environmentally friendly their activities are. 

Hiking and horse riding

When hikers and horse riders respect wildlife rest zones and path regulations, they pose no problem for wild animals. Horse riders are often not even perceived as a threat by wild animals. They should nevertheless remain quiet and follow the rules: Do not enter wildlife rest zones and do not approach wild animals. Otherwise, the horse might also spook. Dogs must be kept on leads on forest paths. During the fawning season of roe deer, this is even mandatory. (May to June; in many municipalities from April to July). Do not let your dog run through meadows being mown. The farmer will appreciate it too. 

Mountain biking 

Follow the designated cycling routes and adhere to the rules. Leave your bike behind if you spot a wild animal. If you encounter a wild animal, stop and wait until it has moved on. Or pass slowly and push your bicycle. Close pasture fences and gates behind you. If you hit a wild animal with your bicycle, report the accident to the police or the game warden. Even if the animal is injured or flees, you should inform the police (telephone 117). 

Water sports enthusiasts and anglers 

When boating, protected areas on the water should be respected. Stand-up paddlers, surfers, boaters and others should avoid large concentrations of birds or at least travel slowly. Kitesurfers should only surf in designated areas or keep away from bird resting sites and reed beds. During the breeding and moulting season in summer, the reed beds along the Midland lakes and slow-flowing rivers are particularly sensitive. 

Paragliders, base jumpers and co. 

Municipalities may restrict flights and jumps, designate flight routes, impose no-fly zones over wildlife rest areas, or introduce a time window of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Even where no specific rules exist, paraglider pilots, base jumpers and glider pilots should observe the following rules: 

• Research wildlife sanctuaries/wildlife rest zones before flying and do not fly over them.  
• If you spot wildlife, continue flying. 
• Respect display flights by golden eagles and bearded vultures and continue flying.
• Do not approach the nest sites of birds. 

Climbing/mountaineering/bouldering 

Respect wildlife rest zones and protected areas. Use existing paths and trails when ascending and descending. Avoid unnecessary noise, stick to established routes and respect seasonal rock closures during bird breeding season. Leave rocks near wildlife feeding stations and forest edges no later than one hour before dusk.

Off-road driving 

Motorised off-road vehicles such as quads belong only on designated tracks and not in natural environments. Illegal and dubious off-road driving should be documented and reported to the local police and wildlife wardens. 

More information:

https://tierschutz.com/tierschutz/themen/wildtiere/wildtiere-in-gefahr/

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