Authorities authorise shooting of wolf after repeated farm approaches

Authorities in Upper Austria have authorised the shooting of a wolf after it repeatedly approached farms in the Mühlviertel region, ORF reported. The decision means that two wolves in Upper Austria now have official shooting permits.

The wolf appeared several times close to agricultural businesses in recent weeks. The first deterrence attempt took place on July 21 in Ottenschlag. The animal was driven away in Reichenau on August 17 and was involved in another incident in Bad Leonfelden the following day.

In all three cases, the wolf approached to within a few metres of a farm. The attempts to drive it away and restore its wariness of people apparently had no lasting effect. Further sightings in the region were also reported to Upper Austria’s wolf management authorities.

One farmer who saw the wolf near his property photographed it while holding a pitchfork as a precaution.

Because of the repeated approaches and three deterrence measures, authorities classified the animal as a risk wolf under Upper Austria’s wolf management regulation. It may now be shot through September 15.

Agriculture state councillor Michaela Langer-Weninger of the Austrian People’s Party said the decision was necessary to protect residents and agricultural businesses. Authorities had to act “before something happens”, she said.

A shooting permit does not automatically mean that a wolf will be killed. Over the past three years, authorities in Upper Austria authorised the shooting of 12 wolves, but only two were actually shot, both in 2023.