Tips for behaviour when entering alpine pastures
General recommendations
Please follow these tips when entering the pastures. Do not leave the marked paths through the alpine pastures; stay on the hiking trail.
- Do not pet the young animals and do not approach them unnecessarily.
- If possible, avoid hiking trails that cross through pastures.
- Keep dogs on a short lead. If a cow attacks your dog, let go of the lead.
- Never stand between a cow and its calf.
- Avoid direct eye contact with the animals.
- Never wave your walking/hiking stick around in the air.
- Do not unpack your rucksack in the middle of a herd.
- If the animals approach you, stay calm and do not turn your back on them. Leave the pasture slowly.
- Close gates and fences to prevent the animals from breaking out. Be careful: most wires are electrically charged.
- Take special care with bulls: keep a safe distance (40-60 metres) from them and leave the alpine pasture.
Herd protection dogs in the Engadin
Herd protection dogs can offer livestock (sheep, goats, cattle) effective protection from wolves and bears. They protect their herds around the clock and in all weathers. The dogs are suspicious of anything unknown or disturbing and keep them away from the herd. If possible, find out in advance where herd protection dogs are being used.
As a rule, livestock guarding dogs are not dangerous to humans. However, when approaching a protected herd, it is essential to pay attention to any warning signals from the dogs and adapt your behaviour accordingly.
Stay calm and walk slowly
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Get off your bike and push it
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Keep as much distance as possible from the herd and do not frighten the animals
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If you do not see any guard dogs, draw attention to yourself by speaking loudly
If livestock guarding dogs bark, run in your direction or block your path...
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Stand still and give the dogs time to assess the situation
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Do not shout at livestock guarding dogs
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If you feel pressurised, avoid eye contact with the guard dog, but remain facing it
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Only continue walking at a leisurely pace once the guard dogs have stopped barking and have accepted your presence
If the guard dogs do not calm down...
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If necessary, keep the dogs at a distance, e.g. with walking sticks, by holding them at an angle downwards towards the dog.
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Do not try to threaten the dogs with raised sticks
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Increase the distance to the herd and retreat slowly.
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Walk backwards if necessary
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As soon as you are far enough away from the herd, the guard dogs will let you go unmolested
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Avoid the herd as far as possible
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If this is not possible or you feel unsafe, turn back
If you enter a protected herd with a dog
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Keep your dog on a lead
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Never attempt to cross a protected herd with a dog, but go well clear of the herd
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If in doubt, turn back
