In the corona lockdown, many people are drawn out into nature.
However, some forest visitors do not stick to the rules of the game - this has consequences for the local recreation areas.
Andechs
- The pressure to relax in the three districts of the Andechs community reached a sad climax just over a week ago: a dog running freely has snatched a fox on the Machtlfinger corridor.
At least that's what the evidence suggests, says Hubert Sontheim, chairman of the Machtlfing hunting association.
Corona in the Starnberg district: rush to local recreation areas reaches a sad climax
Hartwig Görtler, Chairman of the Starnberg District Hunting Association, speaks of a dramatic development.
He is currently preparing an action so that forest visitors adhere to the rules of the game and respect nature.
During the Corona period, the number of cyclists in particular increased, and many people also got on the dog.
With a well-sprung mountain bike it is no problem to negotiate rough terrain.
That is why more and more cyclists no longer meet on the paths, but in the middle of the forest.
Just recently, Görtler's wildlife camera even recorded a racing cyclist there.
In the middle of the woods.
“What is he doing?” He asks himself.
"It's really crazy what's going on out there."
Corona in Bavaria: Forest visitors do not adhere to the rules - hunters asks for more respect for nature
“They all want to get out,” says Hubert Sontheim, “that is understandable.” But he and Görtler expect a little more respect for other people's property and nature.
“You don't have to have a picnic in the middle of the field or walk across the wood with a lamp in the middle of the night,” says Sontheim.
In winter Görtler even saw people grilling in a winter wheat field, “they thought it was a field”.
It is also no longer hunted as usual, says Görtler.
Too many people are out and about around the clock.
Out of turn, he had to shoot deer in January that were disturbed in their winter dormancy and were completely emaciated.
“They wouldn't have made it by spring.” Deer need rest in winter that they didn't have due to the large number of people.
"There is no more wilderness", said Andechs' Mayor Georg Scheitz.
He himself lives on the edge of the forest near the Klosterweiher and Pähler Höhenweg in Erling - an area that has become even more of a hotspot for local people during the pandemic when the weather is nice.
"In winter a sledge came out from behind every bush," says Scheitz.
Rush of visitors in corona lockdown: "The audacity of the people is increasing"
“The audacity of the people is increasing,” says Sontheim.
People ride their bicycles off the beaten track, dogs run around freely, “even when they are growing up”.
98 percent of the dogs he sees are not on a leash.
Quite apart from the fact that parking is carried out everywhere and inconsiderately, so that agricultural vehicles can hardly or not at all get through.
Sebastian Singer also made this observation.
He is chairman of the hunting association in Frieding.
“I can understand the frustration,” he says.
He himself prefers to stay at home on nice days.
Hartwig Görtler now wants to start a concerted campaign with posters that draws attention to the breeding areas.
Posters with lapwing, pheasant, rabbit and Bambi on them.
He would also like to hold politics accountable.
"She has to impose a line obligation," he says.
But nobody dares.
Hunting leaseholders and game guards also have access, could expel people from their places, record personal details, and check trunks.
Corona in Andechs: Action is intended to draw forest visitors' attention to breeding areas
"But who does it?", The environment is much too tense.
The people said they had a right to move freely everywhere, as the Bavarian Constitution assures in Article 42.
“But it also says as long as nature is not disturbed.” However, this is exactly the case.
For the time being, Görtler, Scheitz and the hunting cooperatives kindly appeal to local people to stay on the paths and to keep dogs on leashes.
Because of the rush of day trippers despite the Corona crisis, all jetties at the Starnberg Lakes were closed.
Now a woman has hired a lawyer.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our new, regular Starnberg newsletter.
(By Andrea Graepel)