During a walk in the forest – a bitch in Saxony apparently mauled by wolves

Wolves apparently killed a collie bitch in Weißwasser (Upper Lusatia, Saxony) and ate parts of the carcass. Experts from the State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology assumed that wolves were the attackers on Monday.

Accordingly, the bitch ran after a deer on a walk with her owner last Friday and disappeared into the forest. After she did not return and did not react to whistles and calls, the dog owner went looking for it, it was said.

Shortly thereafter he saw three wolves running away from the forest and found the remains of his dog there. "She had multiple bite marks and had been partially eaten."

According to the experts, attacks by wolves on dogs are not very common. "Conflicts can arise above all when dogs move alone in the area and meet wolves there. The wolves may then see them as invaders in their territory. This can lead to fights that can be deadly," said the Wolf department at the state office.

This is especially true during the wolves' mating season in February and March. The best protection for dogs is proximity to people. Dogs should generally remain on a leash in wolf areas.

In Brandenburg alone, which borders on Upper Lusatia, there are now more than 47 packs (survey from 2021), attacks are now being reported not only on deer and sheep, but also on horses and rarely on dogs.