Zachowania lowieckie wilkow polujacych na bydlo i owce

Autorzy

• Simona Kossak Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa, Zakład Lasów Naturalnych, 17-230 Białowieża, e-mail: skossak@las.ibl.bialowieza.pl

Abstrakt

The investigation was carried out in the Polish Lowlands, in the agricultural/forest area, situated near the Bialowieza and Knyszynska Forest. From May up to November group of about three wolves took fifty seven hunting actions, and hunted sixty seven head of cattle and nine sheep. During the period of data collection, several interviews with farmers and local people were conducted, as well as a collection of medical examinations from the local animal veterinarians. The wolves’ hunting strategies were analyzed. The size of the hunting territory and sub-territories were defined, as well as the hunting system in space and time. The process of hunting on cattle and sheep was described, as well as prey consumption and wolves behaviour with excess of food. The reasons for wolves’ specialization regarding hunting of livestock were analyzed. The comparisons were made between wolf huntings and homeless/wild dogs on damages to livestock. Proposals for solutions to decrease the conflict between wolves and farmers were suggested.

Słowa kluczowe

• wolf (Canis lupus L.)
• hunting behavior
• hunting territory
• space/time hunting system
• attacking course
• consumption
• conflict between human and wolf
• livestock