Growing up wolf pups from the Daleszyce Forests
Growing up wolf pups from the Daleszyce Forests
Summer and autumn of the wolf family from Daleszyce.
Between July and October, we repeatedly recorded a wolf family from the Daleszyckie Forests with photo traps. The family consists of at least 12 individuals – a breeding pair, at least 2 other adults (probably offspring from the previous year), and 8 pups. Despite significant size differences, all of the pups visible in the recordings looked very vital.
The peak of the family’s activity was during the night hours, but the wolves were also active in the morning and evening. Puppies were the most frequently recorded (1 to 8), and the largest recorded group included 10 individuals (8 puppies and 2 adults). The large number, well-fed and energetic pups, indicates that throughout the summer and autumn the adult wolves were effectively hunting, presumably for ungulates that were abundant in the area.
The recordings show the pups playing together, resting, begging for food and the adults returning food. You can also hear from several types of voices with which the wolves communicated among themselves (growling, barking, whimpering and squealing). Attention is drawn to the upright posture, upturned tails and physical superiority during play of some pups.
We also recorded interesting interactions of wolves with other animals. In September, three wolves (one adult and two pups) were walking through a beaver dam at night. Being in the middle of the dam, they were frightened by a beaver with a splash of its tail. The adult wolf went on, to the other side of the beaver spillway, and the two puppies retreated. After controlling their emotions, one of the pups joined the adult wolf, while the other did not make another attempt to cross the dam.
The next recorded interaction took place in early October. At that time, five outgrown, 5-month-old pups spotted a stately male elk walking along the edge of an alder and immediately moved toward it. The predators disappeared from sight for a moment into the dense thickets, and a moment later ran out of them in panic. The moose efficiently chased the whole bunch away and showed the young wolves that he was no playmate for them.
- We also managed to record a wolf family the year before – “Wolf Family of the Daleszyckie Forest“.
- And in 2017, we recorded the adolescence of even younger pups from the Lower Silesian Forests – “Walnut Wolf and her family“.
Author: Tomasz Bracik
Gagat set out into the world
Gagat set out into the world
Over the past few weeks, Gagat has been wandering in the forests adjacent to the Świętokrzyska Forest, where he was born 2 years earlier.
The young wolf frequented the Kolomańskie Hills, the Niekłańskie Forest and a complex on the northern outskirts of Kielce. Three days ago, he made the decision (like Geralt) to finally leave his hometown. However, he chose the opposite direction to Geralt, who wandered to Ukraine, and decided to look for a partner and a place to set up home in the west.
The route of his several-day trek turned out to be quite similar to that of the wolf Scyzor, who unfortunately lost track of when he reached the Częstochowa area in November 2021 (more: “Scyzor is lost“).
Gagat had already crossed the Central Railway Line – the railroad line on which Pendolino trains run from Warsaw to Krakow and Silesia. He has crossed the Pilica River without any problem and is now heading towards Częstochowa. We will keep you posted on the further course of his journey.
Author: Roman Gula
Geralt the wolf has returned to Poland!
Geralt the wolf has returned to Poland!
After two weeks in Ukraine, the wolf Geralt returned to Poland.
Interestingly, during his trek, Geralt made a loop and returned to the trail he had previously hiked east. The loop is about 30 kilometers in diameter. How did he manage to do this?
Certainly, wolves can identify the direction they are hiking, but this is not enough to make such a large loop and return to their trail. Geralt either recognized his scent signals, which he left a dozen days ago, or the wolves have some form of precise navigation that allows them to determine their location, even if they don’t know the terrain.
Author: Roman Gula
Is the wolf Geralt coming back?
Is the wolf Geralt coming back?
Has Geralt decided to return home?
Geralt has been in Ukraine for over a week now.
Based on his location from his GPS collar, we’re guessing that he was trying to hunt something and may have succeeded. After resting for a few hours, he has changed his direction of travel and appears to be heading toward the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Author: Roman Gula
Geralt's journey - heading for Lviv
Geralt's journey - heading for Lviv
Wearing a GPS collar, Geralt the wolf continues to roam through western Ukraine.
Geralt has recently bounced noticeably towards Lviv in his eastward journey. In the vicinity of this large Ukrainian city he can find mostly farmland, but also quite a few larger and smaller forest complexes.
Interestingly, for some reason the wolf took a liking to meadows and naturalized areas rather than older forests. He quickly passed through a large complex near the village of Żółkiew and stopped for a few days in a former farmland in the vicinity of a small river. Maps indicate that there are not many buildings or heavy human activity in the area, so Geralt can rest easy before continuing his trek.
We guess that the location also suits him in terms of a food base, perhaps in the form of beavers living in the surrounding rivers and ponds.
*Geralt is a wolf in the process of dispersal (migration) and is searching for his own place to settle down and start a family.
Author: Joanna
Geralt the wolf has crossed the border into Ukraine
Geralt the wolf has crossed the border into Ukraine
Since setting off from his home forest near Skarżysko-Kamienna, Geralt has already traveled 300km!
From the locations sent to us by his collar, we guess that he tried to hunt something just after he reached Ukraine. We hope he succeeded.
He has also slightly changed his direction of travel to a more southerly direction. Will he go further toward Lviv, or will he turn back to the Janowskie Forests? We’ll find out in the next few days!
*Geralt is a wolf in the process of dispersal (migration), i.e. searching for his own place to settle down and start a family.
Author: Roman Gula
Geralt has reached Janowskie Forest
Geralt has reached Janowskie Forest
Geralt the wanderer, a wolf in the process of dispersal whose steps we track thanks to a GPS collar, has already reached the Janowskie Forest in eastern Poland.
Located on the border of the Lubelskie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships, the Janowskie Forests are part of the Solska Forest and are a kingdom of resinous pine forests. They form one of the most extensive forest complexes in Poland, being home to numerous animal species. They are also an important bird sanctuary, including the grouse, which is threatened with extinction in our country.
In 2021, bison were reintroduced here, and in September of this year the first wild-born bison was born. Wolves also live here. It is estimated that 3-4 wolf families live in the Janowskie Forest, so Geralt may have difficulty settling in their territory.
It is worth mentioning that due to its natural and historical values, the establishment of the Janowski National Park in the area has been planned for many years.
Author: Joanna
Photo author: Jerzy Artur Lobo
Gagat the wolf on the trail of dinosaurs
Gagat on the trail of dinosaurs
Gagat the wolf on the tracks of dinosaurs – a visit to Gagaty Sołtykowskie (near Skarżysko-Kamienna in Świętokrzyskie voivodeship).
Gagat, a young male we trapped in April, is still looking for a place for himself. He has wandered in the Kołomańskie Hills, spent quite a bit of time in the forests between Zagnańsk and Kielce, and recently made a trip north to the edge of wolf Bartek’s territory.
Interestingly, Gagat, perhaps looking for the genesis of his name, visited the Gagaty Sołtykowskie Nature Reserve. This reserve was established on the site of a former clay mine. It owes its name to the gagates found there – a variety of coal, which is used to make jewelry. However, the reserve is best known for its very well-preserved dinosaur tracks of several species, imprinted in the exposed sedimentary rock.
GPS collar locations indicate that Gagat has been near the shed that protects the tracks of prehistoric animals. His interest in the site confirms that it is an attraction worth visiting!
Author: Roman Gula
Photo author: Bogumiła Ostaszewska
Wolf Geralt crosses the Vistula river!
Wolf Geralt crosses the Vistula river!
Geralt managed to cross Poland’s largest river during his journey east!
In the course of his wanderings in search of a place to settle down and start a family, the now almost 4-year-old Geralt arrived at the Vistula River near Zawichost.
First he crossed a narrow branch of the river and made his way to a large island, where he rested and perhaps hunted all day. Late in the evening he had already crossed the Vistula – we think he swam a dog ; ) – and proceeded further east.
Where is he heading? Where will he decide to settle? We will keep you updated on the further progress of Geralt’s journey!
* Geralt wears a GPS collar, which our foundation put on him in November 2021, and thanks to which we can now track the route of his wandering.
Author: Roman Gula
Geralt the wolf headed east!
Geralt the wolf headed east!
In search of a place to set up home, Geralt set off toward Poland’s eastern border.
After several months of wandering around his home territory in the Świętokrzyska Forest, Geralt decided to head out into the world in early October. However, unlike Scyzor (another wolf in his family), who chose a southwestern direction, Geralt headed east.
First, he crossed the S7 road to the Klonowskie Range, where he had spent a lot of time in recent months. He didn’t stop there, however, but headed straight for the “old” part of the Świętokrzyskie National Park, the Łysogóry Mountains. After a brief visit to Góra Miejska and the Święty Krzyż Monastery (he was, among other things, close to a site recently excluded from the Park’s boundaries, over which there is a heated dispute), Geralt ran on through the agricultural landscape of the northern slopes of the Jeleniowskie Range. He bypassed Opatów from the south and found himself northeast of Sandomierz five days after starting his trek.
What will he do next? The area around Sandomierz is agricultural land and it is rather difficult to expect Geralt to settle there, and if he wants to continue eastward, he will have to cross the Vistula River.
*Geralt is an approximately 4-year-old wolf with a GPS collar that is in the process of dispersal (migration), i.e. searching for his place to live.
Author: Roman Gula