Staying safe on alpine pastures

Peacefully grazing cows, lively goats and woolly sheep, surrounded by a fantastic alpine panorama: the idyll on the alpine pasture is truly close enough to touch.

Nevertheless, direct encounters with the herd animals should be avoided at all costs. Mother animals have a strong maternal instinct to defend their offspring from potential sources of danger - such as hikers who exceed the safe distance from the animals or behave incorrectly. Mother cows in particular can therefore pose a serious danger to unwary hikers.

To ensure that our alpine meadows remain a peaceful place to recharge your batteries, please observe the following rules of conduct.

The alpine pasture is there for everyone - animals and people.

• Stay on the hiking trails and do not try to pet the alpine animals
• Keep your dog on a lead, this is the only way to keep an eye on him and ensure his safety
• Don't unpack your rucksack in the middle of a herd - curious animals could try to steal your provisions
• If the animals approach you, stay calm and don't turn your back on them. Leave the pasture slowly
• Close gates and fences to prevent the animals from escaping. Caution: Most wires are electrically charged.
• Pay particular attention to bulls: Always maintain a safe distance
• Keep a low profile, do not wave walking sticks and never stand between the cow and calf

Meeting wild animals

Of course, you may also come across wild animals when hiking on our alpine meadows.

After all, pastures and forests are their home! In order to be well prepared for this eventuality, here is some valuable information and tips on how to behave correctly around deer, foxes and Co.

Meeting wild animals

 Livestock guarding dogs

What are livestock guarding dogs and why do we need them on our alpine pastures?

Livestock guarding dogs are specially trained and educated dogs. They are used on alpine pastures to provide efficient protection from wolves and bears for livestock such as cows, sheep and goats. Working around all hours and in all weathers, they carry out their task of defending the herds and guaranteeing their safety. The dogs are therefore suspicious of the unknown and disturbances and keep them away from the herd. As a rule, livestock guarding dogs are not dangerous towards humans. However, when approaching a protected herd, any warning signals from the dogs should be observed and their behavior adapted.

Here you will find tips on how not to disturb livestock guarding dogs in their work and how to stay protected yourself!

• If you are in an area with livestock guarding dogs but do not see any guarding dogs at first glance, draw attention to yourself by speaking loudly
• If guard dogs bark, run in your direction or block your path: stand still and give the dogs time to assess the situation - they are just doing their job!
• If you feel threatened, avoid eye contact with the guard dog, but stay facing him
• Only continue walking at a leisurely pace once the guard dogs have stopped barking and have accepted your presence
• Do not try to threaten the dogs with raised sticks if they perceive you as dangerous
• Increase the distance to the herd and retreat slowly - livestock guarding dogs will not leave their herd behind and will not chase you
• If you enter a protected herd with a dog, keep your dog on a lead and walk well away from the herd
• In general: keep calm and move slowly!