Wolf visitations close to human residences in Finland: The role of age, residence density, and time of day

摘要: Abstract Large carnivorous mammals, such as the gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) have been recently expanding to human-dominated landscapes in many regions. Although wolves tend avoid human infrastructure, visitations close residences might be unavoidable territories that are highly fragmented by residential areas. House yard visits of particular concern: according Finnish legislation, repeatedly approach within 150 m from nearest building can legally killed for safety. We analyzed average distance house yards and probability against sex, age class, time day, season density 25 territorial GPS-tracked Finland. Generally, houses — with mean distances higher than random locations territory. This difference became decreasing sub-adults while adults this decreased slightly density. Probability visitation house-yards increased increasing densities, was far at night daytime, a greater Sub-adults visited more often adult first summer after spring dispersal natal pack territory, but there no winter. The indication learn moving near buildings is when territory becomes familiar which noteworthy result management.