The incident took place at the end of May 2021. The hikers spotted the silhouette of a dog in the distance, which dropped something from its mouth and ran away.
When they got closer, they saw a small puppy. They were convinced it was a dog whose mother had just abandoned it before their very eyes for unknown reasons. They decided to take it with them.
Wolf cub at the zoo
However, to the hiker's surprise, they would soon discover they'd made a huge mistake. The little pup, though it looked exactly like a dog, turned out to be a wolf.
It hadn't been abandoned - its mother must have been frightened by something and started moving her cubs to another location. Unfortunately, whilst searching for a new hiding place, she encountered a group of tourists and probably abandoned the youngster out of fear.
The little one was first taken to the municipal zoo in Żywiec, then to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Fortunately, it was in good health.
Three wolf packs live in the Beskids. It wasn't known which pack the two-week-old youngster came from, but the centre was to attempt to locate the groups. Unfortunately, we don't know whether the wolf cub returned to its family.
The centre emphasised that the tourists weren't to blame - they meant well but didn't know how to behave when seeing a small puppy left, as it seemed to them, all alone in the middle of the forest.
What to do if you come across a puppy in the woods
Sometimes, what appears to be a small puppy or even a kitten may actually be a wild animal, such as a young fox, wolf, or lynx cub. Many of these animals are born in spring, so sightings of their young are more common between late May and June.
If you spot a small animal resembling a puppy or kitten in the woods, here’s what to do:
- Take clear photos
- Note the exact location using GPS or a map app
- Send the photos and location by message to your local wildlife or animal rescue centre
If it really is a puppy, the rescue centre will arrange help.
