Hiker killed in attack by herd of cows in Austrian Alps
Woman dead, husband injured in an attack by aggressive cows that has left authorities perplexed
A 67-year-old hiker has died after being attacked by a herd of cows in Austria, authorities said, in the latest fatal incident involving livestock in the Alps.
The woman was attacked by what police described as a “mid-double-digit number” of cows in a pasture in the alpine district of Lienz in East Tyrol on Sunday afternoon. Her 65-year-old husband was also seriously injured.
Authorities said the reasons for the animals’ aggressive behaviour remain unclear. The couple were not accompanied by a dog at the time, police said.
Cows sometimes react to the approach of dogs – particularly when they want to protect their calves – by attacking the animal. In light of such incidents, authorities and farmers repeatedly advise caution when hiking in Alpine regions.
In September 2025, an 85-year-old man died following a cow attack when he was out walking with his wife and a dog when he was attacked by a herd of cows in the Ramsau am Dachstein area of the Austrian Alps.