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Hunters appeal to dog owners to keep their dogs on leash for the sake of wild animals 

 

Snow is abundant in places this winter, making it difficult for wild animals to get at food. Because of the thick snow cover animals prefer to stay in place to save energy, and we seldom see roe deer wading across fields. Hunters bring food to  forests and plough up forest passages to give the animals access to the feeding grounds.

 

But once again a problem has come up that is a worry every winter: at the roe deer feeding grounds stray dogs run around. They have for instance been caught on trail camera at the Kostivere hunting Society’s feeding ground.

 

People leave their “pets” unguarded or simply let them out to roam around and hungry dogs inevitably come to places where they should not be without their owner and a muzzle. So a plea to all dog owners: Please keep your dogs on leash!

 

Roe deer have gathered in places arranged for feeding them where hunters bring sheaves of leafy branches and other necessities to help the animals pass the difficult part of winter.

 

 Stray dogs

 

Kostivere Hunting Society director Marko Olop comments the images from the trail camera: "In the image above you can see how two large dogs are busy on a feeding ground for boar and roe deer in a dense forest. We ask whoever recognizes their dogs in the image as well as all other dog owners to keep dogs on leash and not to leave them unguarded. In doing so we care for our wild animals.“

 

 Killed roe deer

 

Roe deer are also seen near houses where they come on search for food. Keila Hunting Society director Kalev Laast joins the appeal: "The roe deer in the image was killed by stray dogs in Karjaküla! The snow is already thick and the roe deer come close to houses or even into yards to look for food. They are quite worn out and don’t always have the strength to save themselves by fleeing. Help the weak ones!“

 

All dog owners have a responsibility for their dogs. Dogs must be on leash. It is prohibited to let them stray around.

 

If you want to bring food into the forest for game animals the easiest way to do this is through the local hunters’ societies who bring extra food to special feeding areas themselves. It is particularly important that the kind and amount of extra food is  suitable to the numbers and physiological needs of the animals.

 

Regarding wild boar there are moreover limitations on extra feeding in connection with the African Swine Fever. All contact details of member societies is on the Hunters’ Society’s web site:

www.ejs.ee