| Summary: | In Central Europe, where most wolf populations persist in habitats altered by humans, the dynamics of these populations are significantly influenced by human activities. Our studies in the western-most part of the Polish Carpathian Mts, 1996–2003, revealed that the winter density of wolves varied in the region from 1.3–1.9 wolves/100 km2 (on average 1.6, SE=0.13). In late summer, the average number of wolves in a pack was 4.7 wolves (n=21, range 2–9, SE=0.4), while an average pack in winter consisted of 4.0 wolves (n=25, range 2–7, SE=0.3). The mean wolf territory covered an area of 158 km2 (SE=26.7, range 98–227 km2). In the Silesian Beskid Mountains, where no human hunting pressure occurred, the wolf population increased during the study period at a mean rate of 28% per year. However, in the Żywiecki Beskid Mountains, where wolves were subject to hunting management in the Slovakian parts of their territories, the population did not increase. The mean rate of increase of the wolf population in the entire study area was 8% per year. Wolf mating seasons began on February 13th and lasted until March 7th, with pups being born during the first ten days of May. Pup rearing places were located between 880 and 1290 m a.s.l. (average = 1009 m a.s.l., SE=34.5, n=11), in dense thickets or under roots of fallen trees and stumps. We did not find excavated dens. In late summer, we recorded an average of 1.9 pups per pack, but counted only 1.3 pups per pack the following winter. Reasons for death (n=18) included culls (83%), collisions with motor vehicles (11%), and sarcoptic mange (6%). In the Żywiecki Beskid Mountains we estimated the minimum mortality rate of 1.5 individuals/pack/year.
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