St. Gallen: Hobby hunter shoots at beehive

The shutters on the east side of a small beehouse have been pierced by gunshots. The incident occurred near popular walking paths.

Gunshots in the Lörwald near Jonschwil

Commotion in the southern part of the tranquil Lörwald forest, not far from the border between the municipalities of Jonschwil and Uzwil. Between 21 and 29 December, a beehive housing Carnica bees at the edge of the forest was fired upon, as the St. Gallen cantonal police confirmed in response to an enquiry from the «Wiler Zeitung». The projectiles found on site by police pierced, among other things, the shutters on the east side of the beehouse.

Hobby hunter on a fox hunt identified as the culprit

The case is particularly sensitive because popular walking paths and trails used by dog owners are located in the immediate vicinity of the beehouse. Over the long New Year’s Eve weekend, the case has now been resolved — amicably. As it turned out, the shots accidentally and unintentionally struck the beehouse. The shooter was a hobby hunter who was in the process of fox hunting, according to the Wiler Zeitung.

Such incidents highlight the dangers of hobby hunting for people and animals alike. The fact that the scientifically entirely pointless practice of fox hunting also endangers uninvolved bystanders makes the problem particularly clear.