What is den hunting and why is it controversial?

From an animal welfare law perspective, den hunting is one of the most controversial hunting methods in Switzerland: A legal expert opinion commissioned by Schweizer Tierschutz STS states that the method can systematically constitute animal cruelty – not through individual violations, but through the method itself.

How does den hunting work in detail?

Den hunting typically proceeds as follows: The hobby hunter locates an active fox or badger den, usually through tracking or with the help of an earth dog. An earth dog is introduced into the den. It follows the scent of the wild animal through the narrow, often branched tunnels of the underground burrow. In the den, direct confrontation occurs: The dog harasses the wild animal and tries to drive it toward the exit or corner it in a dead end. The wild animal either flees outside – where it is shot – or remains in the den while the hobby hunter digs out the burrow.

Underground, in narrow tunnels with no escape route, situations of extreme fear and panic arise for the wildlife. The badger, a territorially anchored species that often inhabits its burrow for generations, experiences den hunting as an extreme violation of its only safe refuge. For hunting dogs, den hunting also involves considerable risk: bites and scratch injuries, trapped limbs, and disorientation underground are not uncommon.

Which dog breeds are used in den hunting?

Specific breeds are bred and trained as earth dogs that are small enough to fit into narrow burrow tunnels while being brave enough to confront wild animals underground. The most common breeds are:

• Dachshund (Dachshund): The breed that gives its name to the practice. The Dachshund was historically bred specifically for den hunting. Different sizes (Standard, Miniature, Rabbit Dachshund) allow access to tunnels of varying narrowness.
• Fox Terrier: Robust, courageous breed traditionally used for den hunting.
• Hunting Terrier (German Hunting Terrier): A specialized breed developed in Germany for den hunting.
• Other Terrier breeds: Various British Terrier breeds (Cairn, Lakeland, etc.) that are also trained for den hunting.

Animal welfare organizations criticize not only the fate of wildlife in den hunting, but also that of the dogs: Earth dogs are trained and conditioned for an activity that places them under extreme biological and psychological stress. Injuries from bites and scratches are occupational hazards for den hunting dogs. More on hunting dogs in the Dossier on Hunting Dogs – Use, Suffering and Animal Welfare.

The STS Expert Opinion: Systematic Animal Cruelty

The Swiss Animal Protection (STS) commissioned a legal expert opinion on den hunting. The opinion concludes that den hunting can fulfill the criteria for animal cruelty multiple times from an animal welfare perspective. The crucial finding: The suffering does not arise from individual violations or negligence, but from the method itself.

Specifically, the following animal welfare problems are identified: extreme stress and panic – the wild animal is trapped in the burrow and cannot flee; risk of injury to the wild animal from bites and scratch wounds; destruction of habitat – badger and fox burrows that are excavated during den hunting are often elaborate constructions that have served generations; prolonged distress – den hunts can drag on for hours. The STS expert opinion is one of the few independent legal analyzes of den hunting in Switzerland. More on Hunting and Animal Welfare in our dossier.

Training Facilities: Wild Animals as Training Equipment

Closely connected to den hunting are so-called training facilities. These are artificially constructed underground tunnel systems in which live foxes or badgers are kept so that earth dogs can be 'trained' on them. The wild animal is in a situation from which it cannot escape and must endure repeated encounters with dogs.

Training facilities are even more problematic from an animal welfare perspective than den hunting itself, because no hunting purpose is pursued here – the wild animal is exclusively instrumentalized as 'training equipment' without being killed afterwards. The STS has classified training facilities as a particularly severe form of animal cruelty. Animal welfare organizations demand a Switzerland-wide ban on all training facilities without exception.

Canton-by-Canton Ban Status: Where Den Hunting is Already Prohibited

The prohibition status of den hunting at cantonal level has developed significantly in recent years. Zurich has banned den hunting since January 1, 2023. Bern has introduced an extensive ban with narrow exceptions since 2024. Vaud banned den hunting since December 15, 2021. Thurgau has severely restricted it since 2017. Basel-Landschaft only permits it with authorization. In the remaining cantons, den hunting is still allowed (as of 2025).

The cantonal patchwork shows that the den hunting issue politically finds a majority for a ban once it is discussed concretely and publicly – as proven by the bans in ZH, BE and VD. The problem: The hunting lobby fights every cantonal ban with considerable effort and uses federal structures to prevent a nationwide ban.

Motion 23.3303: The parliamentary initiative

At federal level, Motion 23.3303 'Ban on cruel den hunting' is pending. The motion demands a nationwide ban on den hunting at federal level, which would replace the current cantonal patchwork. The parliamentary discussion is politically contested: hunting associations lobby intensively against it, animal welfare organizations support the motion.

A nationwide ban would be important from a hunting-critical perspective because it would prevent hobby hunters from prohibition cantons from simply moving to permitting cantons. Currently this is exactly what is possible: anyone who may no longer practice den hunting in Zurich drives to a neighboring canton where it is still permitted.

Injury risks in detail

Den hunting poses considerable injury risks for the wild animal (fox or badger): bite wounds from the dog; scratches and abrasions during escape attempts in narrow tunnels; injuries from excavation work; extreme psychological stress with massive cortisol release; poisoning risk when tunnel gases accumulate; death from exhaustion when the wild animal remains trapped in the den for days.

For the hunting dog, the following risks exist: bite wounds from fox and badger (the badger has particularly strong jaws); being trapped in the den due to collapse or getting lost; overheating in narrow, poorly ventilated tunnels; psychological traumatization during particularly intense confrontations; chronic injury consequences with regular use. More on the situation of hunting dogs in the Dossier on hunting dogs.

International comparisons: How other countries handle den hunting

Switzerland is one of the last countries in Western Europe that still permits den hunting – at least in some cantons. In international comparison, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden have banned or severely restricted den hunting. In Great Britain, fox hunting (fox hunting on horseback) was banned in 2004; earth dog work in dens is severely restricted in England and Wales. In Germany, den hunting is legal but is increasingly fought by animal welfare organizations.

The trend in Europe is clear: more and more countries are restricting or banning den hunting. Switzerland is moving in this direction, but slowly – and only where cantonal majorities can overcome the political pressure of the hunting lobby.

The 'tradition' argument: A weak argument

Supporters of den hunting frequently argue with 'tradition' and 'cultural heritage'. This argument is problematic for several reasons: tradition is not a justification for animal cruelty. Bear baiting, cockfighting and other historical practices were also 'traditions' – they were banned because they are incompatible with modern animal protection law.

Furthermore, 'tradition' is selectively deployed by the hunting lobby: new technologies like thermal cameras and night vision equipment are adopted without hesitation, while old methods are defended as 'tradition' when they come under pressure. More on this in the Dossier on night hunting and high-tech hunting.

What animal welfare organizations demand

The demands of animal protection organizations regarding den hunting are clear: a nationwide ban on den hunting without exceptions at the federal level; a ban on all artificial training dens; transparency obligations for authorities in cantons that still permit den hunting; and consistent prosecution for violations of existing bans. At the cantonal level, animal protection organizations have already achieved successes in Zurich, Bern, and Vaud. The next step is a federal legal ban.

Conclusion: Den hunting has no place in a modern animal welfare society

Den hunting systematically causes suffering – to wild animals and to dogs. It serves no ecological purpose that could not be achieved by other means. It is already banned in several Swiss cantons and is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the population. What keeps it alive is the political power of the hunting lobby and Switzerland's federal structure, which enables it to prevent nationwide bans. A federal ban on den hunting, as sought by Motion 23.3303, would be an overdue step.

Further content on wildbeimwild.com:

• Dossier: Den Hunting
• Dossier: Hunting Dogs – Use, Suffering and Animal Welfare
• Dossier: Hunting and Animal Welfare
• Dossier: Why Animal Welfare Law Ends at the Forest Edge
• Dossier: Hunting Laws and Control

Find more background on current hunting policy in Switzerland in our Dossier on wildbeimwild.com.