Zug,24.07.2014

Might a wolf have passed through the canton?

In recent years there has been evidence that wolves have returned to central Switzerland. At least this is the case in five of the six central Swiss cantons, namely Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Schwyz. Only in the highly populated canton of Zug has there been no indication, until recently.
 
What is beyond doubt is that, sadly, a young wolf was hit by a train and killed in Schlieren in the canton of Zurich on Wednesday 18 June. It is also known that this animal, known as M43, came from a pack from Calanca near Chur in the canton of Graubünden. What is also clear is that this wolf, who was only born last year, passed through the cantons of Glarus and Schwyz attacking a number of sheep, 14 in fact, in the Nuoler Ried area. Two days before the wolf was discovered dead by the railway tracks, a woman from Birmensdorf reported she had seen a wolf-like animal while driving at night and there were also other similar sightings in the Albis area.
 
These latter reports cannot be verified but it is highly likely the wolf crossed into the valley of the River Limmat by passing through the Knonaueramt. So did he also pass through the canton of Zug?
 
Martin Winkler, who is the co-head of the Cantonal Office of Game and Fisheries thinks it is possible as the most direct way between Nuolen, Birmensdorf and Schlieren actually passes through the northern parts of the canton. However, there is no proof.
 
Kristina Vogt from the Kora Predator Research Centre thinks he must have crossed somewhere between Lakes Zug and Zurich, either through dense woodland areas, such as that between Höhronen and the Baarburg or through more open territory of the Hirzel.
 
Even if M43 did not pass through the canton of Zug, he must have passed jolly near.