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“The Panic Is Completely Misplaced” – Munstertal

“The Panic Is Completely Misplaced” – Munstertal

After the first revelation of a werewolf in Munstertal, there is discussion about how to proceed with the pack situation. The issue will be discussed at a general meeting.

It was news likely to spark controversy. Investigations showed that a female wolf was responsible for killing seven goats in Münstertal in early January. It is the first evidence of a female wolf in Baden-Württemberg. Since a male wolf is resident in the area, the first population in the country could form there, which would be a nightmare scenario for farmers and goat breeders.

“Things got heated up, but remained surprisingly sober,” says Thomas Koch, head of the health resort management in Münstertal, about a meeting with some farmers on Tuesday morning. Many fear the continued existence of traditional grazing in the community – mainly because many of the herds are mobile, changing their locations every few weeks, and so extensive fixed fencing is not possible. However, no one at the meeting called for the wolf to be shot down, as Koch describes the atmosphere. “The panic is also completely misplaced,” says Koch. The topic will be discussed at a citizens’ meeting, possibly in March.

The farmers, who keep about 1,600 goats in the community, are also concerned that if a wolf kills them, they will only be compensated by the state if they take appropriate measures to protect the herd, i.e. put up fences. Manfred Schilp, whose goats were killed in early January, had no proper measures in place, which he says is not possible in his 12-hectare pasture. However, Coch is sure that a solution will be found for Shelpe and the other farmer involved at the municipal level.

However, if the formation of beams has already occurred within the Münstertal, the situation must be reassessed. “If wolf pressure increases, there must also be a change in how the animals are treated,” Koch asserts. Especially when the wolves are getting more and more interested in the goats, so there will be more cracks.

Holger Wegner, deputy general manager of the Southern Black Forest Nature Park responsible for nature and landscape, sees it in a similar way. “The grazing process has to continue,” Wegener says. The nature of the recreational landscape would fundamentally change without grazing animals. The goats are kept primarily to keep the landscape open.

The injured farmer, Manfred Schilp, sees it this way. His goats kept the landscape clear of thorny bushes like raspberries and blackberries. To do this, however, they must be able to move freely. In general, Shelp doesn’t think much of a coyote in the neighborhood, let alone a pack. “It simply has no place in our cultural landscape.” In the case of breeding, you also need to consider shooting. “Before, wolves were exterminated. Not all people were so stupid back then,” Schilp says.

However, experts such as wildlife biologist Misha Herdfelder from the Institute for Forest Research and Experiment in Baden-Württemberg say it is by no means certain whether the female will remain in the area and join the settled males. He may have already moved on.