Attack in Steinfeld: did a wolf bite you? | NDR.de – News – Lower Saxony

Starting from: 29.11.2018 11:15

Did a wolf hurt a man while he was working on a cemetery fence in Steinfeld (Rotenburg District) with a bite in his hand? If that was indeed the case, it would be the first attack of a wolf on a human being in Germany. Clarity should provide an emergency sample of DNA badyzes, said the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment. According to Wolfsbüro, who takes care of wildlife for the Niedersächsisches Landesbetrieb für Wbaderwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN), results can only be expected in the coming week.

Institute starts no earlier than Monday with an badysis

But why does it take a week, despite the emergency test, until there is certainty and adequate response? Currently, the samples obtained yesterday have not yet been sent to the responsible for these badyzes by the Senckenberg Institute near Frankfurt. This should happen by tomorrow at the latest. The experts will start because of the weekend, so at the earliest Monday with the investigation, said Wolfsbüro spokeswoman Bettina Dörr. "It takes at least three to four days and it remains to be seen if the samples will be usable for badysis."

The hair, the hammer and the sweater are examined

Two employees from the Wolfsburg office went to the Steinfeld cemetery in the integrated municipality of Tarmstedt after Tuesday's incident and collected samples, Dörr said. These are animal hairs found in the area. "Whether it's really spotted animal hair, we can not say it." In addition, the hammer with which the so-called wolf was repulsed by the church employee and his sweater are returned.

Workers: Four animals expelled

The 55-year-old was attacked by his own account while he was working on a fence. According to the police, the man reportedly said that he had taken his hand behind him. He noticed that it had been recorded. Looking around, he saw the wolf grabbing his hand. Police said yesterday. Three other wolves would have watched the scene. The man was able to drive the four animals.

Ministry: if it was a wolf, it had to kill him

If the DNA samples confirm that it is good of a wolf bite, the animal should be killed as quickly as possible in the context of safety. In this case, the ministry already had contacts with the Ministry of the Interior at the management level, he said. At the Ministry of Environment, they learned the incident Wednesday afternoon.

"Can distinguish dogs from wolves"

The mayor of Tarmstedt, Frank Holle (CDU) told the "Kreiszeitung" that he had to believe the statements of this man. "He knows animals and knows how to distinguish dogs from wolves," Holle told the newspaper. Until now, no human injury has been documented by these animals since the return of wolves to Germany, said Roland Gramling of the WWF Environment Foundation. "You have to take it seriously anyway, whether it's a pack of wolves or a pack of dogs."

Many curious people on the way

According to the spokesperson, Dörr vom Wolfsbüro, many young animals are currently on the way. Many observations would also be reported. Many were born around May and are currently emancipating from their parents. "They are not as cautious and curious as the rest of the pack," continued Dörr. Because of their thick winter coat, they would look a lot like older animals.