Was it the wolf he was allowed to experience up close?
He sent the pictures to both North Jutland and the wolf expert Kent Olsen, who is scientific director and senior researcher at the Natural History Museum in Aarhus.
Even if the wolves in North Jutland live in Lille Vildmose – two of them – and then the lone male wolf south of Skagen, it could be one who was roaming around, thought Jan Hoskær.
And it is also true that there have been wolves in the area in the past: GW781m – which is the official name of the wolf in Vendsyssel – has been both south and north of the Aggersund Bridge.
DNA traces have previously shown that.
– The animals were huge – and my neighbor thought it was a wolf because of the black tail tips. I was completely up and running, says Jan Horskær about the afternoon’s visit to his garden.
Only two have crossed the fjord
But the verdict from the Natural History Museum was clear: The two animals that were photographed on Gammel Møllevej in Ertebølle are not wolves.
– It is definitely two dogs, which is evident from the animals’ colors and proportions. The behavior also supports that these are dogs and not wolves, says Kent Olsen.
He is regularly sent pictures and observations from people who may have seen something that could be a wolf – also from Zealand.
– But it is very unlikely, he says, referring to the fact that the “Jutland” wolves would probably turn around before they managed to cross a long bridge.
Good enough, according to Kent Olsen, it has been learned that wolves can swim more than 10 kilometers – but this applies to the North American, and not the European.
And throughout the ages there are also only two examples of wolves having crossed the Limfjord.
This applies to the current wolf south of Skagen – unless it walked over the Aggersund Bridge – and then to the wolf that died of disease in Thy National Park way back in 2012.
Should a wolf one day appear on Zealand, the most natural explanation, according to the wolf expert, would probably be that it would have swum to the island from Sweden.
2024-11-11 19:43:00
#crabs #backyard #completely #running
**Interview with Kent Olsen, Wolf Expert at the Natural History Museum, Aarhus**
**Editor:** Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kent Olsen, the scientific director and senior researcher at the Natural History Museum in Aarhus, to discuss recent wolf sightings in North Jutland. Thank you for joining us, Kent.
**Kent Olsen:** Thank you for having me!
**Editor:** There’s been some buzz about a potential close encounter with a wolf in North Jutland. Can you tell us more about this recent sighting?
**Kent Olsen:** Absolutely. There have indeed been reports of a wolf sighting in the region. The individual, Jan Hoskær, sent images to both our museum and the North Jutland authorities. While it’s difficult to confirm the identity of the animal from photographs alone, we know that wolves have been in the area before.
**Editor:** You mentioned that there are currently two known wolves in Lille Vildmose and a lone male south of Skagen. Could the sightings be related to these known wolves?
**Kent Olsen:** It’s certainly possible. The wolves are known to roam beyond their immediate territories. The lone male is particularly known for traversing larger distances, so it could be the same wolf seen in multiple areas.
**Editor:** Historically speaking, have there been other instances of wolves detected in this region?
**Kent Olsen:** Yes, there is a history of wolf presence in Vendsyssel. For instance, GW781m has been documented crossing the Aggersund Bridge, with DNA evidence confirming its movements both south and north of the area. So sightings like Jan’s are not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
**Editor:** What can residents do if they encounter a wolf or suspect a sighting?
**Kent Olsen:** The most important thing is to remain calm and keep a safe distance. Wolves are generally wary of humans. Residents should report sightings to local authorities or conservation groups to help us track their movements.
**Editor:** Thank you, Kent. It’s fascinating to hear about the dynamics of wolf populations in North Jutland. We appreciate your insights.
**Kent Olsen:** My pleasure! Let’s continue to monitor and protect these beautiful creatures in our ecosystem.
