A video that may show a wolf has been circulating on social media since Sunday evening. The police are investigating – and are giving tips on how to behave in an emergency.
Bad Bocklet – Since Sunday evening, a video with a possible wolf sighting in Bavaria has been causing a stir on social media. This was announced by the Lower Franconia police in a press release.
Wolf sighting in Steinach? Video is circulating on social media
A search of the area in the district of Steinach (Bad Bocklet in the Bad Kissingen district) by the police did not lead to any sighting of a possible wolf. Police are asking residents, especially dog owners, to exercise caution.
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Video spreads on social media: is a wolf roaming through Steinach?
In the press release, the police reports that a video has been circulating on social media since Sunday evening that “possibly shows a wolf in the Steinach area near the cemetery.” However, the origin of the video has not yet been clarified, nor is it clear whether the animal is actually a wolf.
If you encounter a wolf: This is how you should behave
Until the final clarification, the police are asking dog owners in particular to be particularly careful and provide the following information: “The wolf reacts cautiously to the sight of people, but does not always flee immediately. The animal often retreats slowly and calmly.” According to the police, if an encounter should take place, the following rules should be observed:
- Have respect for the animal.
- Don’t run away. If you want more distance, back away slowly.
- If you have a dog with you, you should definitely leash it and keep it close to you.
- If the wolf seems too close to you, draw attention to yourself. Speak loudly, gesture, or otherwise make yourself clearly noticeable.
- Don’t run after the wolf.
- Never feed wolves; otherwise the animals learn very quickly to associate human presence with food and may then actively seek out human proximity.
The wolf population in Bavaria is increasing. More and more animals and even some packs have settled in the Free State. This often leads to problems with farmers.
Wolves avoid humans – animals are nocturnal
However, the police make it clear that wolves are generally cautious and avoid people. In densely populated cultural landscapes such as Germany, however, it does happen that the animals walk past villages or cross scattered settlements. This happens mainly during the dark, since wolves are crepuscular and nocturnal. Occasional sightings of wolves during the day in the settlement area are still possible. Similar behavior is also known from deer and foxes. (came)
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