Beware animals grazing!

How should visitors behave around grazing animals?

When visiting Erjavčeva koča mountain hut, Vršič Pass, Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps, you may meet sheep, cows and other grazing animals on mountain pastures. Please behave calmly, respectfully and responsibly around them.

Mountain pastures are not only beautiful scenery. They are part of a living alpine tradition, local farming and the cultural landscape of the Slovenian mountains. Farmers and shepherds work hard to preserve traditional mountain pasture farming, and grazing animals help maintain open alpine meadows and the character of the landscape.

Do you know where milk tastes best? Very often, it tastes best from mountain pastures where animals graze during the summer months. The authenticity of alpine pasture life can also be tasted in milk, cheese and other dairy products connected with traditional mountain farming.

Keep a safe and respectful distance

When you pass grazing animals, keep a safe distance. Do not approach them, touch them, chase them, shout at them or try to take close-up photos. Animals may look peaceful, but they can react unpredictably if they feel threatened, crowded or disturbed.

Be especially careful around cows with calves, groups of animals standing close to the trail, animals near gates or fences, and livestock resting in narrow areas. If animals are on the trail, wait calmly or walk around them at a safe distance when possible.

Stay on marked and maintained trails

When walking across mountain pastures, use marked and maintained hiking trails. Do not create shortcuts across meadows, do not damage pasture fences, do not enter private farming areas and do not disturb grazing animals.

If you pass through a pasture gate, close it behind you. An open gate can allow animals to leave the pasture, move onto roads, enter unsafe terrain or create problems for farmers and local people.

Keep dogs on a leash

If you are hiking with a dog, keep your dog on a leash at all times, especially near grazing animals and wildlife. Dogs can frighten sheep, cows and wild animals even if they are friendly, small or well trained.

In Triglav National Park, dogs should be kept on a leash in the natural environment of the park. This protects wildlife, livestock, other visitors and your dog.

If livestock becomes nervous because of your dog, move away calmly. Do not run through a herd, do not shout, and do not let your dog approach or chase animals.

Do not feed livestock or wild animals

Please do not feed sheep, cows, horses, goats, birds, wild animals or any other animals around Erjavčeva koča or on mountain pastures.

Human food is not suitable for animals. Bread, sweets, fruit, salty snacks and other “treats” can harm them and may even cause serious health problems. Feeding animals also teaches them to approach people, which can create unsafe situations later.

In the summer season, there are often sheep and cows around Erjavčeva koča mountain hut. Please do not disturb them and do not feed them under any circumstances.

Wildlife around Erjavčeva koča

The area around Vršič Pass is also home to wildlife. From the windows of Erjavčeva koča, and during walks nearby, visitors may sometimes observe wild animals in their natural environment. This is a special experience and one of the quiet joys of staying in the mountains.

Please observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow animals, call them, feed them, throw food, use flash photography at close range or try to attract them for photos or videos.

The legend of the Goldhorn is part of the cultural imagination of the Slovenian Alps, but real mountain animals need peace, space and respect.

Why grazing matters in the Julian Alps

Traditional mountain grazing is part of the heritage of Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps. Grazing helps preserve open pastures, supports local farms and keeps alive a way of life that has shaped the mountains for generations.

When visitors behave respectfully around livestock, they help protect animals, support farmers and preserve the special relationship between people, animals and mountain nature.

Safety around grazing animals

Most grazing animals are calm if they are left alone. Problems usually happen when people come too close, try to touch animals, walk between a cow and her calf, let dogs run freely, feed animals or move too quickly through a herd.

Walk slowly, speak quietly, give animals space and do not make sudden movements. If you feel uncomfortable, turn back or wait until the animals move away.

Final advice

Enjoy the mountain pastures, dairy traditions, views and peaceful atmosphere, but remember that you are a guest in a working alpine landscape.

Respect grazing animals, farmers, local people, wildlife, marked trails and the protected nature of Triglav National Park. Responsible behaviour keeps the mountains safer and more pleasant for everyone.