Wolves, foxes and jackals are coming to our cities – what you need to know about it and what is the threat to people

Wolves, foxes and jackals began to visit the cities and villages of Ukraine quite often. Wild animals come even to the capital and suburbs! A jackal was seen on Borshchahivka, a wolf was seen in Koncha-Zaspa. And in one country village, a lynx was spotted. For wild boars, hares, deer – from a small roe deer to a huge moose – summer cottage cooperatives have become restaurants. The forest is reclaiming territories from the City. In some villages adjacent to the exclusion zone, in particular in the village of Obyhody in Zhytomyr region, wolves eat dogs. People are worried because they don't want to become an additional dish to the wolf's diet! Or maybe all this is just a rumor and there is no reason to worry?

So, are wild animal populations really increasing? What is the reason for this increase: depopulation as a result of the full-scale Russian invasion of the regions? In the cessation of hunting? In reducing the area of agricultural land? Which wild animals are dangerous and why?

Viktor Smal, head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, answered these and other questions for ZN.UA.

— Mr. Viktor, has the population of wild animals really increased during the years of war?

— The increase in the number of most species of wild animals has been observed in Ukraine during the last 20-30 years, and not only during the years of war. This is a natural process and it depends on the presence of breeding sites, forage base, number of predators, competitors, height of snow cover and other limiting factors. The increase in the number of animals differs depending on the species and region. The largest population increase since the full-scale invasion is observed among carnivores, especially such species as the wolf, jackal, and fox. Moreover, jackals from the Black Sea steppes spread to almost the entire territory of Ukraine and all its climatic zones.

— What is the main reason for the increase in the number of predatory animals: in the absence of poaching, in the decrease in population density?

— The reason for the increase in the number of predators is the limitation of hunting in many regions of Ukraine. This does not make it possible to achieve optimal growth rates of ungulates, fur-bearing animals and winged wild birds.

Individual cases of poaching are not the factor that significantly affects the growth of livestock. It practically does not affect the reproduction of animals and the number of people in this or that region. People mostly live in cities and do not have a significant impact on animals in their natural habitat.

— Which species of wild animals and birds showed an increase in population?

— An increase in numbers is observed in all groups of wild animals. Thus, the population of ungulates, such as bison, elk, deer (noble, spotted), roe deer, roe deer, is growing. The population of wild boars and mouflons is growing. There are more fur animals: hares, beavers, badgers, martens, wolves, jackals and foxes. The number of birds that live in a certain area, such as partridges, grouse, grouse, and woodpeckers, is also increasing, as well as migratory birds: geese, ducks, pigeons, waders.

However, it should be noted that the growth of small wild game is insignificant, and in some places the number of hares and partridges is minimal due to the use of pesticides and wide-reaching equipment during intensive farming.

In addition, the rapid uncontrolled growth of the number of wolves, foxes and jackals during the last two years has a significant negative impact on the number of wild animals.

— How have the migration paths of animals and birds changed? From where and where are they migrating now?

— Several migration routes of migratory birds run through Ukraine. The migration of near-water birds is significantly affected by habitat changes that occurred after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam was blown up. Some of the animals were directly affected by the sharp rise in the water level below the dam, and some by the drop in the water level in the reservoir. The migration paths of the birds that were tied to the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant will also change, but this process will last several seasons.

As for the process of movement of animals in areas of intense hostilities, it is mainly local in nature: animals that did not die from the explosions move to calmer places. During such migrations, young and weakened animals die more.

In addition to migration, we are observing a rapid invasion of the jackal, which in a short time, starting from the south of the Odesa region, populated almost the entire territory of Ukraine – from Transcarpathia to Kharkiv region.

— What types of wild animals are dangerous for humans and how to avoid conflicts with them?

— All types of wild animals can be dangerous for humans, especially when they protect young animals. Large animals, such as bison, elk, deer, bear, wild boar, can cause human injuries of various kinds. Traffic accidents involving animals also happen, often with fatal results.

In addition, wild animals are carriers of a number of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans). Ukraine is one of the few countries in Europe where the incidence of rabies is increasing and the number of deaths from this incurable disease is recorded every year. The transfer of this disease to domestic animals: dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats, sheep is a particular danger for people, because they are in direct contact with people every day.

In case of detection of individuals with suspicious behavior (lack of timidity, unprovoked attack on people or animals), it is necessary to immediately notify the employees of the state veterinary medicine service, and in case of any contact with such animals, contact medical institutions for post-contact vaccination.

— Are wolves, foxes, and other animals that can spread rabies and other dangerous infections being shot for sanitary purposes?

— The situation regarding rabies in Ukraine is complicated by the aggression and full-scale invasion of Russia – the number of stray and feral dogs and cats has increased, and the suspension of hunting has led to a sharp increase in the number of foxes, wolves, and jackals.

Decreasing the number of foxes, which are the largest natural source of rabies, as well as wolves and jackals by hunting them, is the most effective measure to prevent the spread of rabies.

The shooting of animals in centers of rabies and other dangerous diseases established by the veterinary service, in accordance with the legislation on veterinary medicine, is carried out by employees authorized to protect hunting grounds, regardless of the hunting season. Also, if necessary, selective diagnostic shooting of hunting animals is carried out for veterinary and sanitary examination.

For example, 277 foxes and 69 jackals were harvested in Odesa region as a result of such measures. According to the results of laboratory tests, 59 foxes (21%), 17 jackals (25%) were diagnosed with rabies.

Given that there are almost four thousand foxes, two thousand jackals and about 200 wolves in Odesa, the unfavorable epizootic situation regarding rabies poses a real threat to people's lives and health.

— What is the current number of wolves in Ukraine in general and how many should there be?

— There are about four thousand wolves in Ukraine, and their number is increasing. According to scientists, the optimal number should be from 500-600 to 1500 animals.

— Four thousand wolves for the optimal number of one and a half thousand. This population explosion occurred precisely against the background of large-scale aggression?

—  Yes. Moreover, the main increase fell on the regions where hostilities are ongoing: Kherson, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, that is, those regions where we do not have access.

—  What to do in this situation?

— Unfortunately, it is necessary to shoot animals where possible. Hopefully, several areas will open the hunting season this year.

— How many wolves were there in Ukraine before the war?

—  About two thousand. At the same time, about a thousand were killed.

—  Can wolves bite a person?

— Wolves attacks on people have been registered more than once. But these were animals with rabies. Wolves do not hunt people and try to avoid contact. But domestic animals are attacked quite often.

— What is the population of ungulates in our forests, meadows and steppes?

—  More than 300,000 different types of ungulates. And it is the sharp increase in the number of wolves that hinders the growth of their herd.

— How to stop the uncontrolled increase in the number of wolves, jackals, foxes, wild boars, which can also be dangerous for people and livestock?

—  There is only one way out, namely hunting these animals. For this, it is necessary that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine does not delay in approving the limits and norms of hunting wild animals. We very much hope that the relevant order will be approved and come into effect in the near future.

Read this article in Ukrainian and russian.