Dead capercaillie found on road

Despite measures taken to protect them, a capercaillie was found dead in the Höhronen – Gutschwald area on Friday. The cause of death is presumed to be human activity.

A forest road that runs through the Gutschwald wood, which is a area with wild capercaillie (Auerhuhn), was diverted this spring for six weeks to provide protection for the capercaillie during their courtship and mating period, in the hope of them raising young. A ranger service carries out on-site checks.

The dead capercaillie was discovered when the protective measures were lifted.
Photo: Office for Forests and Game

Nevertheless, it was not possible to prevent the paths from being driven or walked on in some cases, writes the Directorate of the Interior in a statement. When the diversion was removed on Friday evening, 14 May, a dead capercaillie was discovered in the middle of the road. The game protection service, which was immediately summoned, found that the animal probably died very recently due to a broken neck. As human activity is currently considered to have been the most likely cause of death, the Office of Forests and Wildlife will file a charge against unknown persons, the statement continued. The dead animal was handed over to the University's Centre for Fish and Wildlife Medicine for an autopsy.

Measures for the protection of capercaillie
The population of capercaillie has been declining for decades and its range is shrinking. In order to secure the capercaillie population in Switzerland over the long term, the Confederation and the cantons have established protected areas. The Gutschwald forest area is one of these in the canton of Zug. The animals require quiet, loosely stocked and richly structured coniferous forests at higher altitudes. The increased use of the forest as a recreational area has a negative impact on these protected areas – especially during the courtship period.