In the Altmark countryside, Stefan and Cordula Ceelen, horse enthusiasts, found their tranquility disrupted by an unsolicited guest. Rumors swirled about a young wolf prowling near their farmstead. Yet, their claims were dismissed, and the authorities dismissed them as mere feline or canine encounters.
Stefan, disgruntled, spoke out against this dismissal. He asserts, "We're not against the wolf, but our beloved horses could become their dinner. Our farm is secured with an electric fence, and wildlife cameras keep an eye on the surroundings."
In October, the cameras captured strange visitors behind the fence for the first time. Stefan sent the pictures to the Wolf Competence Centre, expecting confirmation. However, the analysis was unexpected. The images allegedly displayed foxes or perhaps even cats, according to wolf specialists.
While Stephan admits to observing a fox in some images, a local hunter insists that a young wolf also appears in one surveillance photo. The hunter's expertise is questionable, as foxes can resemble young wolves in certain conditions.
Battles over wildlife identification are often complex due to visual, photographic, physical, and expert evidence. Devoid of such evidence, it's difficult to categorically confirm whether it's a wolf, fox, or even a domestic cat causing a stir in the Altmark countryside.
