Free-ranging dogs threaten meadow breeders in the Murnauer Moos: Biologist misses sensitivity - Vogelbund boss pleads for leash obligation

Created: 04/02/2022, 02:00 p.m

Clear message: A stop sign on the Murnauer Moos indicates that this is a meadow nesting area.

© Wilz

Meadow breeders have become rare.

They still exist in the Murnauer Moos.

But free-roaming dogs put the remaining stocks.

Biologist Benjamin Schwarz misses sensitivity in holders.

Murnau

- Dogs roaming free, romping on sensitive litter meadows of the Murnauer Moos away from the paved paths - this sight is hard for Benjamin Schwarz to bear.

The Seehauser biologist misses the sensitivity towards this unique ecosystem, to which he even dedicated his diploma thesis.

Because meadow breeders are settled there, and their populations are declining dramatically.

Due to the intensification of agriculture and the loss of habitats, these species have already declined by up to 95 percent across Germany since 1980, reports Schwarz.

According to him, the Murnauer Moos is also affected.

The breeding season from the beginning of March to the end of June is particularly critical.

Threatened species such as the whinchat, skylark, curlew and corncrake then nest on extensively managed and moist areas, the litter meadows.

If they are startled by dogs or people, the birds will flee.

The eggs often cool down, which means the end for the offspring.

Schwarz finds it "tragic to see how every year nests are abandoned by bird parents by disturbing free-roaming dogs".

He fears that species like the whinchat will become extinct in a few years.

Because even if the owners are addressed politely, according to the Seehauser, the majority are unreasonable.

Despite the signs, some people would even walk cross-country across the protected areas with several off-leash dogs.

Schwarz has observed that they are often local people invoking their common law.

The press office of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office can confirm this.

"The problem is discussed very often and is known to many people, including many dog ​​owners," said spokesman Stephan Scharf when asked by the daily newspaper.

No mooring

A leash requirement, as demanded by Schwarz, cannot be easily implemented.

According to Scharf, the nature conservation ordinance established in 1980 contains “no explicit mooring requirement”.

However, disturbance of wildlife is prohibited.

Anyone who violates this can be "addressed, expelled from the place or even prosecuted".

The nature conservation watch is responsible for this, which has been on the road on a small scale for years - as well as employees of the district office (area management, biological station am Moos and other specialists).

What is new is that a ranger position will be added shortly and the nature conservation watch will be "decisively strengthened" in the foreseeable future.

Furthermore, Scharf reports that stakeholders such as communities, farmers, hunters and tourist information offices are being brought on board.

According to the press spokesman, focusing "solely on free-roaming dogs" is not enough.

Because the meadow breeding bird species, which are very sensitive to disturbance, also have to deal with predators such as crows and martens.

In addition, people without and even with a leashed dog can cause considerable disruption in certain places.

Agricultural use and hunting also have to fit, emphasizes Scharf.

It is therefore necessary to “start with all factors”.

LBV boss against volunteering

Against this background, the intention is to focus on focal points in order to inform, sensitize and convince those seeking relaxation there.

"We have found that the more precise and understandable the message is, the more people participate," says Scharf.

According to him, it's not about upsetting dogs and dog owners.

Hans-Joachim Fünfstück does not think much of appeals and voluntary regulations.

He acts as chairman of the regional group of the state association for bird protection in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Weilheim-Schongau.

His attempts to draw people's attention to the topic of bird protection have mostly failed.

"People are ignorant and unreasonable," complains Fünfstück.

Therefore he sees the only way out in a leash obligation.

Because: "In terms of nature conservation, voluntary regulations are shipwrecked".

Constanze Wilz

Also interesting:

Police place wild campers in the Murnauer Moos

You can find more current news

from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.