The hit wolf. — © Welcome Wolf
Another wolf has been killed. The collision took place on Wednesday morning on the Limburg North-South connection, a place where animals often cross the road. The non-profit organization Welcome Wolf calls for measures to protect wild animals and other road users.
The young male wolf was hit by a car in Houthalen-Helchteren on the N715, the Limburg North-South connection. The animal walked via Molenheide in the direction of the military domain in Hechtel. That is a place where the Limburg pack often crosses the road.
The non-profit organization Welcome Wolf has had several contacts with the Roads and Traffic Agency about this over the past six months. In the long term, there would be an ecoduct over the N715, but in the short term measures are not obvious without blocking the walking routes of the wolves through their territory. Only an enforced lower speed with permanent control can provide relief, says Jan Loos of Welcome Wolf.
Initial investigation shows it to be a young male wolf. — © Roger Dreesen
From next year, ‘eco grids’ will be installed on the N74, an extension of the N715 towards North Limburg, so that wolves and other wildlife will no longer end up on the road. Traffic there is allowed to drive at 120 kilometers per hour. Three wolves have already died, and wild boars, deer, foxes and other game are regularly killed. Moreover, such collisions are also dangerous for other road users.
Autopsy
The animal that was hit has now been picked up by the Nature Help Center. Initial investigations show that it is a young, healthy wolf. X-rays show that he was hit in the back by a car. The cadaver will be taken to the Institute of Nature and Forest Research for an autopsy later today.
