Breeding season from today: dogs are not allowed to run free in the Isental meadow breeding area.
Dorfen - The breeding and setting season begins on March 15th.
Dogs now have to be on a leash in the Isental meadow breeding area.
In addition, walkers should not walk across the fields and forests in the entire municipality: Here too, lapwing or bluethroat will soon breed, deer and hares hide their young in the meadow grass.
Forester Walter Zwirglmaier therefore wishes that the people of Dorfen always stay on the right track in the coming months.
Walkers have been on the rise since Corona.
Sure, the area around Dorfen is beautiful.
And regardless of whether on the Silbersee or on the Birkenallee, the sun is shining, that's what many Dorfen residents are saying at the moment: Get out into nature!
In addition, since the pandemic, more locals came to the dog: Exactly 94 dogs were registered with the city of Dorfen in 2020, 28 more than in 2019. The number of four-legged friends in the municipality increased from 639 (2019) to 658 (2020) .
There is basically no leash obligation in Dorfen.
"We rely on dog owners to treat their fellow human beings and nature responsibly," says Gudrun Gersbach, the city's press spokeswoman.
And Zwirglmaier, who sits on the city council for the ÜWG, speaks out against the obligation to leash: "Dogs need exercise, playing with other dogs is important for four-legged friends," explains the environmental officer and dog owner.
But regardless of whether it is a Malinois, Maltese or Pug - the animal should obey, stay with its mistress within ten meters: "If the animal is easily accessible, there are no problems," says the forester.
Zwirglmaier knows, however, that dogs are "nasal animals" and therefore follow every interesting trail.
“Dogs have a hunting instinct, they chase after the supposed prey.
The game is scared off and flees. ”It is extremely rare for a dog to catch a deer.
But only recently a dog hunted several deer near St. Wolfgang, one ran into a fence and was instantly dead, the other deer was so badly injured that it had to be killed.
"The risk of accidents with wildlife on the road caused by wild animals being scared off is certainly an important factor in the high number of accidents involving wildlife," said Zwirglmaier.
In Dorfen, dogs must only be kept on a short leash from March 15 to July 15 in the Isental meadow breeding area.
During this period it is not allowed to leave the designated paths through the area.
The area begins east of the municipality connecting road Kloster Moosen – Hampersdorf, extends to Wasentegernbach and begins on the outskirts east of the Isen-Vilstal-Radlweg.
Not only birds that are particularly worthy of protection are at home there, such as the lapwing or bluethroat.
Mammals and reptiles also find shelter in the protected area.
But not only Bello & Co. disturb the breeding birds, walkers, cyclists and riders are also repeatedly mentioned in ornithological reports as an acute problem.
What is now in the Isental meadow breeder protection area should be taken to heart by all day trippers in Dorfen and the surrounding area, Zwirglmaier appeals: "Whether with or without a dog, pedestrians should stay on the paths." startled.
“Lapwings camouflage their offspring well, but the birds fly up, and the enemies, such as crows, watch as well - the young lapwing are then lost,” says the forester.
At the edge of the field, the animals also have little cover: “People don't see the birds that look for soil insects and wild herbs here.
But caution is not only required during the breeding and setting season, but all year round. "
Michaele Heske