Reproductive behaviour of wild-living wolves in Biaowiea Primeval Forest (Poland)

摘要: Characteristics of reproductive behaviour of wolves (Canis lupus) were studied by radiotracking and snow-tracking of four packs in Białowie a Primeval Forest (BPF), Poland, in 1995-1999. Signs of mating occurred between 12 January–22 March. Parturitions took place between 19 April–12 May, and the denning period lasted for 49-64 days. During that time, wolves utilised 1-3 den sites, spending on average 27 days in each site. The dens were never reused in consecutive years, but year after year the breeding sites were located in the same parts of the pack’s territory. Pregnant females shrunk their normal mobility by half on 10 days before parturition (from 23 to 13.5 km per day, on average). During 10 days post partum, they spent 85% of time with pups and travelled 3.9 km/day, only. On days 11-30 after parturition, females spent 74% of their time tending pups and increased their daily movement distance to a …