Co-authors Irina Rotenko and Viktar Kasilovich
Throughout the 2024 wolf denning season in Naliboki Forest, we initiated our examine in early April and, as of early June, proceed to make use of digicam traps to watch three wolf households with pups. Our earlier analysis (Sidorovich and Rotenko, 2019, together with a number of weblog posts) indicated that lynxes, brown bears, and bison exhibit aggressive conduct in the direction of wolf breeding. Moreover, pink deer and elks have been identified to assault wolf dens housing pups and people with roaming younger pups. Concerning the aforementioned wild mammals beforehand recognized as antagonistic to wolf breeding in Naliboki Forest, we have now noticed adjustments of their numbers and distribution in comparison with earlier years.
Adjustments in Mammal Populations:
Bison and Pink Deer: In spring 2024, we noticed a notable improve in bison and pink deer populations, whereas bear numbers remained comparatively secure.
Lynx Decline: Lynx inhabitants in Naliboki Forest seems to have dramatically decreased. In January 2024, our census throughout roughly 2,000 sq. kilometers revealed solely 32 lynxes (together with adults, subadults, and juveniles). Within the latter half of spring 2024, over two months of almost every day work within the forest with 35-40 digicam traps, we solely managed to document three lynxes in an space of about 1,400 sq. kilometers. The present actual variety of lynxes in Naliboki Forest is unknown, however our latest information signifies that there are not more than 15 lynxes, with 10 being a extra real looking estimate. Beforehand, in 2019, we documented a decline within the native lynx inhabitants in Naliboki Forest as a result of a illness (Sidorovich, 2022). As for the latest lower in lynx numbers throughout late winter and early spring, the trigger stays unclear.
Adjustments in wolf denning circumstances:
With fewer lynxes current, wolf denning grew to become considerably safer in spring 2024. The first risk shifted to the presence of quite a few bison, pink deer, and elks within the habitats. Nevertheless, wolves discovered refuge in prolonged pine stands on aeolian sand soil, the place these hostile ungulates have been much less frequent throughout spring.
Wolf Denning Particulars:
- We surveyed an space of roughly 1,400 sq. kilometers for wolf dens with pups.
- Traditionally, when the wolf inhabitants density was increased, 10-13 wolf breeding teams denned on this area. As of 2024, the variety of wolves in Naliboki Forest and sure all through Belarus has considerably decreased, with solely 5 breeding teams recognized within the examine space. Amongst these, there are three double-breeding teams (that’s, two females and one male) and two single-breeding pairs.
- We found 3 lively dens with pups, and in two cases, we have been in a position to examine the wolf pups, which had litters of 5 and eight pups respectively.
- Detailed traits of denning areas have been documented for every of the 5 wolf breeding teams.
Earlier than delving into specifics about every breeding group, we kindly ask our readers to contemplate supporting our analysis. Over the previous seven years, we’ve primarily self-financed our examine on wolves and different carnivores in Naliboki Forest, initially via ecotourism earnings and later, as a result of a big discount in such alternatives, by promoting our property. Presently, we’ve reached a monetary restrict and depend on our readers’ generosity. For those who take pleasure in our work, please think about shopping for us a digital espresso to maintain our analysis going. Your help makes a big distinction!
Traits of wolf denning areas (April-Could 2024)
First breeding group
On this denning space, there have been quite a few bison, pink deer, and elks. Lynx and brown bears have been additionally current. With such quite a lot of hostile mammals within the denning space, the final refuges for breeding wolves grew to become pine stands on aeolian sands. The breeding wolves—comprising two moms, a father, and two pup-sitters—selected self-made burrows for his or her dens.
Burrow-dens of those wolf breeders in April-Could 2024.
The space between the 2 moms with litters diverse from about 2 kilometers to a number of hundred meters. Within the footage beneath, we observe the second mom with a smaller pup passing by the burrow-den of the primary mom, whose pups have been markedly bigger.
One mom gave delivery on April twentieth, whereas the second mom delivered her pups in early Could. Apparently, through the 2023 denning season, these similar breeders denned in an analogous habitat sort at distances of 1-2.2 kilometers. Most of their burrow-dens have been destroyed by brown bears (see picture beneath).
Second breeding group
The moms on this double-breeding group occupied contrasting habitats roughly 2.5-4 kilometers aside. The primary mom denned in pine stands on aeolian sands, an space the place hostile mammals have been comparatively uncommon.
The moms on this double-breeding group occupied contrasting habitats roughly 2.5-4 kilometers aside. The primary mom denned in pine stands on eolic sands, the place hostile mammals have been comparatively uncommon. In distinction, the second mom selected a spruce forest with ample treefalls. Some areas of the spruce forest have been interspersed with black alder swamps, and close by river valleys hosted quite a few badger and pink fox burrows. Initially, the second mom denned in a treefall however later relocated her pups to a pink fox burrow with out enlarging it. By that point, the pups have been already 5-6 weeks outdated and will discover the logging space close to the den. Within the second mom’s denning space, all hostile mammals besides brown bears and lynx have been current every day.
Third breeding group
The third breeding group consisted of a pair. They denned amongst massive fallen timber inside a patch of blended old-growth forest, encircled by a dense ring of ecologically poor coniferous stands. On this space, sightings of hostile mammals have been unusual. The pups have been born on April twentieth.
Forth breeding group
The fourth breeding group included not less than two breeding females and their male, though it’s doable that extra wolves have been a part of the group. Their denning space was situated in an ecologically numerous valley close to a medium-sized river, that includes a variety of habitats. All the everyday hostile mammals have been discovered there, aside from bison; nevertheless, lynx and brown bears have been rare guests. The realm contained quite a few badger burrows, each massive and small, in addition to some pink fox dens. Predominantly, the breeding wolves used expanded badger setts. The primary feminine delivered her litter within the closing days of March, whereas the second feminine gave delivery to her pups in mid-April.
Fifth breeding group
The fifth breeding pair consisted of a pair. The feminine gave delivery in late April. They made their den in a forest space dominated by spruce stands, surrounded by a number of small streams and swampy valleys. All probably hostile mammals, besides bison, occurred within the denning space however have been comparatively uncommon. The couple used self-made burrows for his or her den.