The prefecture of Seine-et-Marne revealed the information on Wednesday afternoon: a wolf was seen twice, on November 9 in Beton-Bazoches and on November 13 in Saint-Mars-Vieux-Maison. So, what behavior should you adopt if you encounter one of these canines?
Don’t try to approach him
“We have no evidence of wolf attacks,” said Bertrand Sicard, president of Ferus, a national association for the defense and protection of large predators. The risk posed by wild boars is greater than that of wolves, which often hide before you see them. » However, do not try to approach him, or let him approach you (by feeding him for example).
Back away slowly
This specialist recalled a hiker who found himself at a dead end facing the animal. If faced with a cornered animal, the situation can quickly become dangerous. “The man just backed away and the animal ran away,” said the specialist. He is a shy animal, he will do anything to avoid you. »
In the event of a close encounter, stay standing and avoid running. Back away slowly and calmly, without taking your eyes off him and not turning your back to him. Yell and throw objects at it if the wolf hasn’t backed away and raise its tail high while growling.
Photograph or record if possible
If you observe this animal, remember to note as many elements as possible to describe it. If you can, take a photo or video of the animal, before trying to collect elements such as prints, fur, droppings, etc. “It was still difficult to identify them just by prints comparable to a particular dog,” recalls Bertrand Sicard.
Notify the French Biodiversity Office
Once the information has been collected, please contact the French Biodiversity Office as soon as possible to obtain accurate information regarding the animal’s geolocation. If you find the remains of the animal, you should not touch it and notify the authorities as soon as possible.
