Wolf sighting in Hörsching: Deer left tracks! Breathe a sigh of relief in the barracks!

Wolf sighting in Hörsching: Deer left tracks! Breathe a sigh of relief in the barracks!

There was great excitement at Vogler Air Base in Hörsching when a cadre soldier reported an alleged wolf sighting on January 21st. The situation was taken seriously and feces and hair samples were taken for DNA analysis to shed light on the matter. The results are now in: Instead of a dangerous wolf, it was just a deer that left the mysterious tracks. This is what 5min.at reported about the surprising turnaround in this incident.

Experts early on had doubts about the theory of a wolf on the barracks grounds, as the remains seen did not show the typical characteristics of a predator. Instead, they were so-called “bemmerls” that came from deer or rabbits, which called into question the authenticity of the wolf sighting. Now the genetic analysis makes it clear that only deer DNA was found in the samples, which calms the situation in the barracks. Employees were informed via official notification that “no detectable predator DNA” was discovered. Genetic analysis and confirmation from the Kronen Zeitung have solved the mystery.

Consequences of the results

This discovery not only benefits the employees in the barracks, but also has far-reaching consequences for a real wolf in the Mühlviertel. The wolf, which was released for hunting at the beginning of the year after two scare attempts, now remains undisturbed because the deadline for “removal” has long since expired and no shot has been fired so far. As ORF reported, the wolf issue remains relevant for the region, especially since the last confirmed sighting of a wolf with photo evidence was on January 23rd in St. Oswald/H. took place. The land administration has also recorded 17 reports of wolves this year. But to reassure everyone: the most dangerous “leopard” in the barracks is still the tank!