Carinthia at the top: 14 wolves since the wolf regulation came into force

Carinthia at the top: 14 wolves since the wolf regulation came into force

In Carinthia, an unusual trend is emerging that redefines the relationship between man and wolf. Since the introduction of the wolf regulation almost two years ago, a total of 15 wolves have been killed, which makes Carinthia the leading region in Austria when it comes to wolf shots. This number could surprise for those affected, as the wolf officer of the state, Roman Kirnbauer, notes.

The Gailtal was the scene of most kills, with six wolves being shot there in the past two years. A large part of it fell in the Spittal district on the Drau, while a wolf was each killed in other districts such as Feldkirchen, Villach-Land and Wolfsberg. The current Situation shows that despite the deprivation of the influx of new wolves to Carinthia is unbroken.

wolf pack and influx

With regard to the immigration of wolves, Kirnbauer reports that an average of over 20 new individuals per year in Carinthia will be detected. "The wolves come from all directions and fill out the gaps," he explains. In the meantime, two wolf packs have been identified in Carinthia: One has its habitat in the Hochstadl between Carinthia and East Tyrol, while the other is active in the Dobratsch area. It is particularly noteworthy that the last evidence of young animals in this area date from last year.

The wolf regulation was introduced not only in Carinthia, but also in other federal states such as Tyrol and Lower Austria. These regulations enable shooting under certain conditions, which continues to heat the debate about the wolf as a wild animal in Austria.

decline in wolf cracks

Although the number of wolves kept has increased, there is also positive news: the wolf cracks that traditionally strain the pasture economy have decreased slightly since the regulation came into force. Kirnbauer suspects that this is partly due to the fact that fewer animals are driven to the alpine pasture. "The cracks have decreased, but still existed. We have already worked on about 250 cases this year, and the year is not over yet," he explains.