{"id":3019,"date":"2019-04-29T11:35:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T09:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.tatonka.com\/?p=3019"},"modified":"2024-07-17T13:01:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T11:01:36","slug":"are-cows-dangerous-for-hikers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tatonka.com\/en\/are-cows-dangerous-for-hikers\/","title":{"rendered":"Are cows dangerous for hikers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cows and juicy pastures mirror the alps like the mountains itself. Though, sometimes, there are accidents when hikers and trekking-enthusiasts run into cows. But how dangerous are cows actually? How to behave on an alp and what to do in case of a cow-attack? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cow pies – like trail signs spread all over hiking paths<\/a> – illustrate clearly: you\u2019re on an alp. From time to time, mountain trails cross the pastures of cows or, rarely, horses as well. And there\u2019re some hikers not feeling very comfortable with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially since cows are quite impressive animals. They can reach a height of about 2 meters and weigh up to 1,2 tons. Due to these features it\u2019s not that surprising people feel uneasy entering the pasture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are cows dangerous for hikers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Allegedly, in 2014, there were 10.200 cow-attacks, says German daily \u201cWelt<\/a>\u201d – with four accounted fatal. These numbers caused the phrase that a cow – statistically speaking – is more dangerous than the great white shark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, to claim that cows are a real peril for hikers, and one must be aware of cow-attacks is overrated. The comparison of these grazing mammals with the white shark won\u2019t change this a bit. Naturally, people encounter cows in their daily life way more often than those predators with flippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, cows are gentle animals. Under common circumstances there\u2019s nothing to be afraid of. Yet there are reasons cattle might attack men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
Cows are peaceful animals. They only behave aggressively, cows are peaceful animals. They behave aggressively only if wanderers behave wrongly. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Cows are flight animals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cows try to avoid conflicts by nature since they\u2019re flight animals and only attack in case of anxiety. This happens if they feel threatened or are forced to defend their territory against intruders. Especially dogs getting to close to the herd might cause such a reaction. Mother animals are particularly sensitive – but only in case of a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, it\u2019s of utmost importance to know what to do when entering a pasture. Usually, lacking knowledge or carelessness lead to accidents in the mountains so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Who is grazing on the pasture?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To evaluate how much caution is necessary for entering the pasture, you might want to have a look at the herd first. Are there only full-grown dairy cows on the alp, you are free to enter without any doubts. Those animals are used to humans as they\u2019re milked daily. Therefore, they don\u2019t react anxiously when hikers come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, if there\u2019re young<\/strong> among the herd you are to be super cautious: they like to frolic around and are curious as well. It might happen that they approach hikers. Though it\u2019s unlikely to be attacked a calf\u2019s unintended move might hurt a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s a herd of mother animals<\/strong> browsing next to the trail you must be extra wary since the females instinctively protect their calf<\/strong>. If they consider something a threat for their young they\u2019ll come at it with all they got. And, if there\u2019re bulls – male cows – among the herd you must be on full alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Young<\/a>
Mother-cows instinctively defend its offspring with danger. The best thing to do is to keep enough distance and leave the animals alone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming across cows: behavior rules on the alp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n