Most dog and cat owners' blood runs cold at the thought of a ranger harming their pet in the name of wildlife protection. The experts from specialty chain Maxi Zoo explain what pet owners need to keep in mind.

In Germany, the federal law on hunting and the respective state laws give wildlife rangers the right to act. According to paragraph 23 of the law, a ranger is responsible for the protection of wildlife as specified by state laws, in particular from poachers, lack of food, epidemics, and from predatory dogs and cats, as well as ensuring compliance with regulations pertaining to wildlife protection.

What exactly is meant by predatory dogs and cats is not defined any further and is left to the individual ranger’s judgement. Dogs with a keen hunting instinct can chase, disturb, frighten, attack, and in the worst case, kill wildlife. Conservationists also see free-roaming dogs as a threat to rabbits or deer at the edges of forests or fields. Cats are predators by nature and are hard to stop from hunting smaller birds and animals such as rabbits, frogs and other amphibians. Baby animals in particular often fall prey to cats. In Germany, cats may only roam as far as the next occupied house, a maximum of 200 to 500 metres. If a ranger notices a cat roaming about, they don’t have to ask any questions. However, most rangers who see wildlife threatened by domestic animals try to find mutual solutions and first appeal to owners’ sense of responsibility.

What you can do as a pet owner to minimise the risk for both your pet and wildlife:
· Find out about the applicable laws governing wildlife protection and taking your dog into the forest, surrounding areas and in national parks from the relevant authority.
· Personally contact the ranger responsible for the area you often visit with your dog or that you know your cat likes to visit.
· Make sure that your cat can be clearly identified as a pet, e.g., with a noticeable collar and tag.
· Castrating or sterilising your feline friend stops the cat population from growing and with it, the number of stray cats. Castrated tomcats also roam less frequently.
· Avoid sensitive natural areas, such as breeding or pasture areas of ground-nesting birds, shore or marsh areas when out walking.
· Don’t let your dog chase wild animals and keep them on the lead in the required areas. You can train obedience with a tracking lead.
· If you four-legged friend accompanies you on forest paths off the lead, they must be obedient! Make sure that your dog is never far away, so that they can react to your commands. Dogs that run about clearly unsupervised are more likely to be a nuisance than those with owners nearby.

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Don't just let them roam free Owners should never let their dogs roam unsupervised through undergrowth or chase wild animals when out on a walk. Photo: Maxi Zoo/Ulrike Schanz (Photos may only be reproduced with permission and in connection with editorial text. High-resolution photos can be requested from the Fressnapf press office.)