A wolf bared its teeth at a runner in Bunken Klitplantage near Aalbæk last Friday. The orienteering club Vendelboerne is now considering whether its youngest members should still run alone in the forest.
The encounter took place in the dune plantation south of Skagen, where a recreational runner suddenly came face to face with a wolf. According to DR, the animal showed its teeth and followed the runner for several minutes while defending its cub.
The orienteering club Vendelboerne holds races in Bunken Klitplantage several times a year. Chairman Kjeld Arildsen told DR that the club has to react after the incident, because it has members as young as 10 who run alone in the forest.
Arildsen noted that orienteers, unlike the runner who filmed the wolf, do not stay on the marked paths. He said there is reason to fear that a sudden meeting could surprise the animal. He added that at very close range, a wolf might not stop at showing its teeth.
The chairman said the matter must be discussed by the club’s board, and that the outcome could be a requirement for children to be accompanied by an adult. He also plans to contact Naturstyrelsen about possible additional precautions.
The club’s most recent event in the plantation was held in June, and no members encountered the wolf then, Arildsen told DR. The area is a popular destination for runners, campers and visitors who come to explore nature in Denmark.
Signs and official advice
Naturstyrelsen has put up signs at Bunken Klitplantage near Aalbæk, DR reports. The signs ask visitors to give the wolves peace by choosing another route through the area.
The state agency Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø is behind the warning notices. As reported by DR, the agency recommends that people stay away from the area until the incident has been examined more closely.
At the nearby campsite First Camp Raabjerg Mile, warning signs were put up over the weekend. They urge campers to keep away from the dune plantation while the case is being looked into.
Receptionist Cirkeline Holmen Jensen said several guests have photographed the sign and are aware that they should not enter the area. She told DR that she has not met anyone who expressed fear about the wolf.
Many guests understand that the animal is protecting its cub, according to the receptionist. She described the wolf’s behavior as that of a parent defending its young.
The immediate trigger for the club’s review is Friday’s encounter, in which DR says the wolf bared its teeth while guarding a cub. The state agency’s recommendation to avoid the area until the case has been checked came in response to the same incident.
