Wolves in Slovenia represent the northwestern part of the Dinaric-Balkan wolf population. The area is covered with settlements, roads, industrial zones, grazing arable and forest areas, therefore the coexistence with humans is necessary for the existence of the species. For more efficient management and protection of the species, knowledge on the ecological and behavioral characteristics of the wolves space use is necessary. Telemetry, wolf howling, analysis of wolf homesites, winter snowtracking and genetic analyses were included in the research.
Eight wolves, four males and four females, that were fitted with telemetric collars and belonged to packs Javorniki, Gotenica, Nanos, Vremščica, Rog and Slavnik were included in the habitat use analysis. They had a variety of different roles in their packs. One of the wolves was a young female pup, the young male and female were still unproductive, two reproductive females and one reproductive male were radio collared. A young female pup and a male wolf were monitored during their short and long distance dispersal. The size of wolf territories in Slovenia ranged from 259 to 560 km2 (n=8). In Slovenia wolves avoid fragmented areas and predominantly inhabit forest, areas with conserved nature and avoid roads, settlements. Choosing a habitat that makes them possible to reduce human exposure is crucial for the survival of wolves, especially pups. Between 2010 and 2018, with the help of volunteers, we recorded 124 wolf responses, of which 67 were adults and 57 pups. Young dispersing wolf traveled at least 1,176 km in 98 days and settled in Italy. With a female from a neighboring Alpine wolf population, he founded a new pack. This was the first documented link between the Dinaric-Balkan and Alpine wolf populations.
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