Since the beginning of June, an unwelcome guest has haunted the front gardens of residential buildings in Liebschützberg (Saxony). He goes on a rampage, steals items, and has a particular fondness for solar lamps, which he kidnaps.
It’s about a wolf: the Liebschützberg “Solar Wolf”! The strictly protected animal loves the gardens of the community of 3,000 inhabitants and always comes at night.
Antje Schilling (44) with her cat, who is only allowed to stay home at night
Benjamin E. (38) and his partner Jana (36) show off the wildlife camera a wolf consultant installed on their property and secured against theft with a bike lock
A wolf advisor’s wildlife cam has already caught the wolf stealing. He also appeared several times on the surveillance cameras that were set up against human intruders, including when he carried off a cat’s bowl. He also bit into a dog pool.
Residents of Liebschützberg are increasingly afraid of the young animal, which has since been identified as a female animal through genetic testing and assigned to a herd.
Now the Free State of Saxony has put a brochure in the mailboxes. With advice on how to behave if you see the predator in your own garden. It is recommended, for example, to open the windows or the door, as well as “wild gestures” and “loud calls”.
Captured by the surveillance camera: the wolf approaches the cat’s bowls. The next moment, he takes one of them away.
The office advises residents to chase away the wolf: “If necessary, step outside.”
Resident Benjamin E. (38): “After the wolf ravaged our house for four nights, the wolf advisor closed off our yard with an electric fence.” Just a week later, the wolf struck again, this time on the neighboring property. “The neighbor’s solar lamps also disappeared,” says E.
Conservation officials came to assess the situation. Benjamin E.: “We were told that we should be happy that such a rare animal has taken up residence here with us. But does it have to be in our gardens?” In any case, camping with the son (12) in the garden is a thing of the past this summer.
The wolf was already in the garden of resident Antje Schilling (44): “Then they told me that I should lock my cat in the house at night because it might attract the wolf. But we live here in the country. Cats belong out there ”.
She can hardly believe it: “If the nature conservation authority is seriously recommending that I lock my cat in the house so that the wolf can play in my garden, then something is wrong!” There is also the fear that the predator will become dangerous. However, “there is no reason to worry,” the country tells residents in the flyer. “Currently, the situation is not classified as relevant to the safety of humans.” The wolves have resided in the North Saxony district since 2017. They have no interest in people.
But apparently in their gardens… Since the behavior of the Liebschützberg Sun Wolf is “unusual”, the situation will continue to be “observed”.
The following nights were haunted:
► Night of June 9: An irrigation hose belonging to the E. family came loose from the hedge and chewed on it.
► Night of June 22: A solar lamp is carried away by the fireplace of the E family. Even a hand brush is suddenly somewhere else.
► E.’s wife wakes up at 2:30 am with noises in the garden, sees the wolf from the bedroom window.
► On June 23, the wolf bites a pool of dogs belonging to family E. A wolf consultant takes a swab for a genetic test that detects the wolf.
► On July 3, the wolf steals another solar lantern from the E. family and is photographed by a wildlife camera while carrying it in his mouth outside the property. Later, a neighbor finds the lamp in a field.
► July 11, 00:08 and 00:10: Burglar security cameras film the wolf on the Schilling family property hijacking a cat feeder.
► July 20, 2:16 am: Surveillance camera again films Wolf as he explores Mrs. Schilling’s garden
This article comes from BILD am SONNTAG. The ePaper of the entire broadcast is available here.
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