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I went to Alutaguse to ramble around - to see if the ”great wake-up" of bears has started, and of course hoping to find fresh tracks and by going back along them to arrive at the winter den of the bear.

 

With colleague Ahto we started to get ready for the forest. We brought along snow-shoes – you never know. When Ahto was still lifting sundries into the car I went behind the cellar to see what was new there and inspect the prints on the snow. I had been trampling around there for a little while when I looked up and saw – a bear. A long straight forest road runs just behind the cellar. About 700 metres away from us a male bear was sitting, walking and doing its things. For quite a while. Ahto rushed for the tripod, of course all family members came to inspect the bear.

 

Male bear on forest road

 

This cellar backside is a legendary place. Three years ago a youngsecond-year bear cub lived there. As we know, when the mating time of the females begins the young cubs keep away – they fear the male bear. This young cub was quite bold and it was seen quite often on the forest road behind the cellar.

 

Shortly afterwards we went out on the forest road to see how wide the print of the animal was. We had to do with a medium size male bear, print width about fourteen centimetres. Curiously enough I met this bear again. I had followed its tracks for an hour and a half, hoping to reach the winter den, but no. I found alder stumps that had been pushed down and got an idea of the movements of the animal. The prints brought me to the forest road and whom do I see far, far away – of course the bear, and the print widths matched.

 

Fight of the bear with a rotting stump

 

Who and what more was remarkable during these days? I met a young beaver that was busy in a ditch and not the slightest afraid of me. I saw elks that monitored me with their ears. The grouse cocks were hanging around in the trees, waiting for the grouse lek – the lek was sluggish in Alutaguse. Where usually there would be 8-9 cocks only 2-3 were in place. Have the numbers gone down or has the lek not taken off yet?

 

On the last day, or Monday, when I came from the forest I had just jumped across the ditch and climbed up on the road bank – and saw the bear cub again. This time it came proudly and slowly walking straight towards me. Oh, it was quite big. Walked and walked. But as fits large and cautious animals, it kept a suitable distance to the parked car. About 60 metres before it he turned calmly into the forest and disappeared from my view. The raven overhead screamed. The print width of this individual was fifteen centimetres.

 

Bear print on forest road

 

I inspected the roads in Alutaguse where I have come across bear prints most often. Nobody. No prints. Are most of them still in their winter sleep? By now they should  have water in their pockets.

 

But there is plenty of snow in the forest. Some roads can’t even be passed and the snow and ice has not melted. When I drove out from the Alutaguse forests it seemed as if another season had begun – much warmer and more springlike.

 

Would you like to see a bear for yourself?

Come along with us on a brown bear safari tour:

http://www.360.ee/loodusvaatlused/karusafari-alutagusel.html