Second young wolf born this year falls to its death

In Graubünden, above the Trinser Alp on the Piz Mirutta, yet another young wolf has fallen in steep, rocky terrain and succumbed to its injuries.

This is already the second six-month-old animal to fall and die this autumn.

The carcass of the young wolf was discovered by a private individual and immediately reported to the wildlife wardens. Based on the degree of decomposition, the animal had already been dead for several days. The young wolf fell in almost the same location as the first young wolf approximately two weeks earlier.

Did a flock of sheep trigger the tragedy?

A large flock of sheep is kept on the alp which, despite herd protection measures, may exert "a certain attraction" on the wolves, said Adrian Arquint, head of the Office for Hunting and Fishing. The terrain around the alp is very steep, and a rock band runs across the slope where the fall occurred.

An inexperienced young wolf could panic and fall while climbing upward in such terrain, said Arquint. Nevertheless, it is not an everyday occurrence for two animals to fall in such a short space of time.

It remains unclear whether either animal belongs to the Calandra pack. Genetic analyses are expected to provide clarity. Like the first, the second dead wolf will also be handed over to the pathological institute of the University of Bern. More on wildlife.