Deer that died in agony, which had been hunted and torn by wild dogs in the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moor, have recently caused consternation again.
Hunters know that the number of unreported cases is much higher.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen
– Three incidents with poaching dogs, which hunted deer when walking without a leash and sometimes killed them, have become known in the past few days.
They happened in the Loisach-Kochelsee-Moor on both the Kochler and Benediktbeurer fields.
"The problem is control"
Where dogs have to be on a leash is generally regulated by the municipalities.
There are corresponding regulations everywhere in the district, because the topic is not new.
"The problem, however, is the control," says Wolfgang Morlang, chairman of the district hunting association.
"The problem isn't the dog, it's the owner"
If a dog has picked up the scent, it will not only pursue deer, but "in principle any wild animal," says Josef Hesslinger, spokesman for the Tölz district hunting group, and by that he also means rabbits, foxes or badgers.
Smaller dogs would even get stuck in their burrows again and again.
When Heßlinger hears the sentence "My dog doesn't do that," he shakes his head. "The problem isn't the dog, it's the owner," says the Tölzer.
Very few dogs are so well trained that they would respond to every command from their master - especially if they had scented a wild animal.
For some dog owners, insight comes too late
As a hunter, Hesslinger oversees a hunting ground with walking and hiking trails.
Again and again he speaks to dog owners and tells them that they have to be on a leash - and experiences that they then "disconnect the leash again 200 meters away", he reports and says: "Only when an animal owner has seen for himself how painful a hunted wild animal is died, he comes to his senses."
Fenced off-leash areas for dogs would help
What could help?
Hesslinger would consider designated, fenced-in free-roaming areas for dogs to be useful.
“In Italy there are such designated areas for the dogs to tussle and play.
It's almost like a big children's playground," says the Tölzer Jäger.
He is certain that this would "massively relieve" the problem in this country.
In Germany, this option is only available for dog sports clubs.
A fine of up to 1000 euros is possible
In the past few days, two responsible dog owners could be identified (we reported).
You now have to answer for an administrative offence.
The fine can be up to 1000 euros, explains Marlis Peischer, spokeswoman for the district office.
"Most cases are not reported," says Peischer.
Warnings have been issued once or twice in recent years.
Chasing by free-roaming dogs: high number of unreported cases
Both Hesslinger and Morlang know that the number of unreported wild animals that have died after being chased by free-roaming dogs is relatively high.
When a dog chases a deer, it sprints relatively quickly, but also tires more quickly than a dog, explains Hesslinger.
"The dog then tries to wrestle it down and apply the fatal bite," Morlang said.
Some dogs succeed in this and then begin to eat drumsticks or thighs.
Other dogs, on the other hand, would “only” injure the deer.
These would then drag themselves into the woods and lay in the so-called wound bed.
"There are only a few animals that survive with their injuries," says Morlang.
Most would get infections and die from them.
"It's an agonizing death."
Animals have few energy reserves in winter
It's often forest workers who report later, says Josef Hesslinger.
Hunters did not go deep into the forest in winter now, so as not to startle the animals.
"These currently only have little energy reserves."
Injured deer causes traffic accident
In the most recent case in Kochel, an injured deer jumped onto the street and caused a traffic accident.
The dog owner was identified.
"The administration will act immediately if they receive reports from the police or from citizens," says the Kochler town hall.
