Translation: Liis
The weather without any snow for two weeks now continues and the forests are brimming with animal tracks. There are so many tracks that it is difficult to understand their age. But it isn’t important, following old tracks gives a grasp of the doings of animals too. On Friday, going on snowshoes, we followed the tracks of a wolf pack in Kõrvemaa.
We were lucky because, making our choices at a number of track trail forks, we arrived at the night quarters of the wolves. Here the pack had spent several days. We identified at least 6 different resting positions. It seemed that these had been slept in several times because the positions were deeply melted. From the sleeping quarters countless tracks went off in all directions.
Wolves usually rest in quite open spots from where they have a good view out on the surroundings. This time it was in a low-lying river meadow. Some sleeping positions were in the reeds, some directly on the river ice.
The sleeping quarters site was surrounded by sparse trees, and around it was the open meadow.
The tracks were particularly close on the river ice. The impression was that the flock had made numerous excursions from the sleeping quarters. Nearer the sleeping quarters the paths were more worn; further away, tracks fanned out in different directions.
In some places slightly bloodied spots caught the eye. These are left on the snow by female wolves in heat. At present the mating period of wolves should be ending. But since the tracks we found were at least one week old then probably at that time the mating period was still fully active. In the photo below the seat of a female wolf in heat can be inferred.
It is proof that the protected Kõrvemaa wolf pack is doing well and that in spring offspring is to be expected
Marking spots and droppings were everywhere, even on snow hanging from a tree.
About one kilometre from the sleeping place we came on a boar cranium picked clean. It can be assumed that it was remnants from the wolves’ feeding.
The forecasts for the next few days don’t predict any snowfalls!
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