Around 25 packs in Switzerland: What do I do if I encounter a wolf while hiking?

A reliable indicator is wolf dung, Gerke says. “As wolves eat their prey, including fur and bones, their clearly visible remains can still be found in their solid feces.” Like dogs, wolves mark their territory with their feces. According to Gerke, tracks in the snow in winter or at higher altitudes point to wolves. “It is often difficult to distinguish from paw prints of large dogs.”

“If you see a wolf more than 30 meters away, you don’t need to do anything special,” says Gerke. Because wild animals are often shy, they often shy away from humans on their own. If the distance is less than 30 meters, it’s important to get the wolf’s attention so you don’t startle or frighten him. “It’s best to keep an eye on him, move away from him slowly, and talk to him calmly but firmly.” It is not recommended to always look them in the eye: “As with dogs, direct eye contact with wolves is threatening behavior.” If a wolf actively approaches a person, you should try to scare him away. “But that’s highly unlikely.”

Gerke says that if a wolf has rabies, it can become dangerous to humans. However, it is impossible to encounter an infected worm in Switzerland. “The disease has been eradicated in Western Europe.” It becomes problematic when the wolf trusts it because it took food from humans in the past. “This is why you shouldn’t feed the wolves.” Baby animals are often curious and yet have to learn to respect humans. Gerke: “Because a wolf with no respect for humans is usually run over or shot at some point.”

In principle, it’s okay if you’re hiking in wolf territory. I have a dog with me, says Gerke. “The only thing that matters is that the dog stays close to the owner so you can get him to you quickly if needed.” But more often than not, a wolf will flee without getting too close to a human “regardless of whether the person is traveling with or without a dog.”