Austria prides itself in its green Alpine pastures, where hikers are free to roam among the grazing cows. However, a high-profile incident in which a tourist was killed by a herd of cattle has prompted the government to issue guidelines for visitors who are not familiar with animals.
Here are four things the Austrian authorities want you to keep in mind when strolling through the Alps — or any area where farm animals are not fenced in.
Should I be afraid of cows?
“Cows are not dangerous animals in general, but mountain pastures are no petting zoos,” says Austrian Tourism Minister Elizabeth Koestinger, who grew up on a farm.
Austria’s Alpine Safety Board has only counted 54 bovine incidents with two human fatalities in the past decade – compared to the 30 million hikers who roamed the country’s mountains in this period. Hikers should not feed or startle the animals by making a lot of noise, according to the guidelines.
They should also stay on marked paths. If cattle block the way, they should never walk through the herd but around it.
What makes cows mad?
Be aware that mother cows seek to protect their calves – especially against dogs. Most of the incidents between humans and cattle have involved dogs that hikers took along on their trips.
Dog owners should keep their pets on a tight leash, but they must let them off the leash if cows start acting aggressively, the guidelines say. Dogs are much faster than cows and can easily run away, says Andreas Ermacora, the head of the Austrian Alpine Club. “Then the cows will run after the dog, and not after the human,” added Ermacora, who often goes hiking with his own dog.
How do I know how the cows feel about me?
Animals show they are irritated by raising and lowering their head, shuffling their feet, and by snorting. What’s the best way to stay safe if cows approach? It’s best to stay calm and to walk out of their way without turning your back so that you can see what they are doing, the Tourism Ministry advises.
As a general rule for mountain pastures, the guidelines ask hikers to “respect the people who work here, the nature and the animals”. – dpa
