Wolf seizures ensure fear: forest kindergarten in need!

Wolf seizures ensure fear: forest kindergarten in need!

in a forest kindergarten in Sinntal-Altengronau, in Main-Kinzig-Kreis in Hesse, the find of an animal carcass on January 2, 2025 caused concern among parents and in the community. The carcass, which was very worn out and only consisted of ribs and hinds, could not be precisely determined. It is believed that it was a fallow deer.

The discovery of the carcass alerted the parents of the forest kindergarten, which caused the children to be temporarily accommodated in the main house. Mayor Thomas Henfling expressed that the consideration of a wolf is the possible cause of the death of the animal due to current wolf evidence in the region. However, the authorities could not make a definitive statement as to whether a wolf is responsible for the carcass or whether the animal died naturally or was eaten by other animals such as foxes or wild boar.

wolves in the region

The concerns of the parents are not unfounded, especially since a total of 17 wolf attacks on farm animals were documented in 2023 in the Main-Kinzig district. In the past, there have also been repeated sightings of wolves in the area. Last autumn, four wolf puppies were even taken into a photo trap in the Bavarian Rhön, which could increase the concerns of the residents. According to Fuldaer Zeitung so far no DNA analysis of the carcass has been carried out, which could provide information about the exact circumstances of death.

In addition, a parents' evening was recently held, in which the situation was discussed. Representatives of the Wolfszentrum Hessen were present and informed the parents about the opportunities. The parents now have the decision whether they want to send their children to the forest group or to organize the care privately. So far, a child of the 20-member group has decided to temporarily stay at home what the mother can understand.

reactions of the municipality

The uncertainty is not only limited to the parents of the forest kindergarten. Older citizens report discomfort when they go for a walk in the forest alone. The feeling of security that was still available a few years ago disappears. Mayor Henfling remembers carefree game of children in the forest, which now seems to be threatened by the return of the wolves. In the past, many residents of the city had even welcomed the decline of the wolves, but the reality now looks different, as Wochblatt

The return of the children to the forest is already planned, and in order to better train the employees and children, wildlife training was promised by a former forester. Although no electrical fence is intended, trill pipes were provided for the children to give them a feeling of security, there should be an encounter with a wolf.

The defects in the security perception and the concerns regarding the wild animals are a challenge for the community and the parents. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what measures are taken to meet the worries of citizens.