Food Habits of the Wolf Canis Lupus in Latvia Based on Stomach Analyses/ Huntide (Canis Lupus) Toitumine Latis Maosisu Analuusi Pohjal

摘要: INTRODUCTION Foraging of the wolf Canis lupus is fairly well studied for Palaearctic and North American range (Bibikov, 1985; Pavlov, 1990; Jedrzejewska & Jedrzejewski, 1998; Mech, 2003). The few studies conducted in Baltic region (Valdmann et al., 1998, 2005; Andersone, 1999; Andersone Ozolins, 2004) confirm existing knowledge; however, they have significant implications related to species conservation policy. Wolf a totally new comparatively lately implemented initiative Baltics Latvia particular (Ozolins, 2001, 2006). Nevertheless, population has never been assessed as endangered. Promotion killing by paying bounties was abolished 2000 while legal restrictions on hunting, including short ban during breeding season, were introduced first time 2004. Due disrupted human--wolf coexistence this area, so-called conflict rather moderate mainly fear hunters that any protection measures towards wolves will reduce their bags wild ungulates or just make them harder hunt. Livestock depredation considered probably less extent than elsewhere preventive are so far completely ignored farmers despite fact tens sheep cattle killed annually. Since policy makers succeeded involving most relevant stakeholders joint monitoring provides data its current distribution, demographic viability, records damage livestock. 2004, these used order adjust hunting quota actual status enable sustainable harvesting. point interactions between other game persists hence all details diet amount consumed prey important deal with controversial interests wildlife managers. This study examines food eaten wolves, who afterwards sex, age, date place individuals known. As pressure may change structure (Bondarev, 2002; 2003) it understand how whether at consequences foraging, which main reason 'wolf conflict' (Treves Karanth, Our latest material help temporally spatially analysis consumption quite considerable period because preliminary gathered summarized already from 1998 2001 (Andersone 2004). At persecuted without restriction ungulate populations started recover after fast decline 1990s (Andersone-Lilley 2005). Recently, shown an obvious increase controlled more stable level. Thus we expected some changes well. MATERIAL AND METHODS Food habits December April 2008. based analyses 165 stomachs obtained harvested over country. rarely hunted summer there only 17 year. Therefore differences winter diets not analysed. remains found 121 stomachs. Fresh stomach contents weighed (1 g precision) microscopic slides hair prepared identify according keys Teerink (1991) our own reference collection. In former recent experience, majority cases consist single species. maximum, two different same stomach. Eleven samples contained items plant remains. …