Wolves In Belarus: Do They Exist?

Belarus is home to a population of 1,500–2,000 wolves. With the exception of those in nature reserves, wolves in Belarus are largely unprotected. They are designated as a game species, and bounties ranging from €60 to €70 are paid to hunters for each wolf killed. This is a considerable sum in a country where the average monthly wage is €230.

In the Naliboki Forest, in central Belarus, visitors can track endangered wolves with a zoologist. The 2,000 sq km Naliboki forest also has one of the world's highest densities of lynx, elk, bison, storks, and eagles.

Wolf-watching holidays in Belarus

Belarus is home to a population of 1,500–2,000 wolves. While they are largely unprotected, with bounties paid to hunters for each wolf killed, there are still opportunities to see these majestic creatures in the wild.

Where to See Wolves in Belarus

The best place to see wolves in Belarus is in the Naliboki Forest, a vast and enchanting forest in central Belarus that covers 2,000 square kilometres. This forest is also home to one of the world's highest densities of lynx, elk, bison, storks and eagles, so you'll have plenty of other wildlife to spot even if the wolves are elusive.

When to See Wolves in Belarus

Wolves breed in the forest during the winter, with around 40 migrating to the forest from late September, and this number quadrupling by late January. To maximise your chances of seeing wolves, plan your trip between these months.

How to See Wolves in Belarus

There are a few different ways to try to see wolves in Belarus. You can join a tour, such as those offered by Explore, which will take you into the Naliboki Forest with a zoologist guide. Alternatively, you can try to spot them independently by visiting the forest and keeping your eyes peeled. Just remember that wolves are shy, nocturnal and swift, so they can be difficult to spot.

What to Expect on a Wolf-Watching Holiday in Belarus

On a wolf-watching holiday in Belarus, you can expect to spend time in the capital city of Minsk, as well as venturing into the forest. You may stay in an eco-station or camp in the forest, and you will likely spend a lot of time hiking and tracking the wolves. Be prepared for variable weather conditions and bring suitable clothing and footwear.

Other Wildlife in Belarus

In addition to wolves, Belarus is home to a diverse range of other wildlife, including brown bears, roe deer, lynx, elk, bison, storks and eagles, foxes, capercaillie, white cranes, and raptors. So, even if you don't get to see wolves, you'll still have plenty of other amazing animals to spot.

Wolf attacks on dogs in Belarus

The study found that, on average, one or several dogs were killed per every ten visits by wolves. In densely forested areas, up to a third of dogs (15-20%) are killed by wolves annually. This mortality rate is over 20 times higher for dogs that are frequently free-ranging compared to well-kept dogs. Interestingly, the study also found that wolves will even hunt dogs that are on leashes, although this occurred in less than 1% of cases.

The reasons for wolf attacks on dogs in Belarus are multifaceted. One factor is the decline in rural living conditions, which leads to more frequent wolf attacks. Additionally, the abundance of stray dogs in rural areas of Belarus may contribute to the problem. These stray dogs, which often survive by scavenging, can be perceived as competition for food by wolves. In some cases, wolves have even been known to court and mate with female dogs, resulting in wolf-dog hybridization.

While wolf attacks on dogs are a concern in Belarus, it is important to note that deliberate hunting of dogs by wolves is relatively rare, with only about 2% of wolf packs exhibiting this behavior. Overall, the majority of wolf packs in Belarus (60-70%) are not frequent killers of dogs, exhibiting lower aggression towards them.

Wolf breeding in Belarus

Wolves breed in very small human settlements, such as homesteads and hamlets, and are attracted to dogs. They also tend to breed in areas with fewer sheep, as they pose a predation risk. In Belarus, cows are kept instead, which can attack and kill wolves.

Alena Seliakh, a resident of northern Belarus, rescues orphaned wolf pups and raises them with her family. This has become an ecotourism business, where visitors can meet these wild animals up close.

Wolf conservation in Belarus

The Naliboki Forest in central Belarus is one of the world's largest wild forests and is home to one of the highest densities of lynx, elk, bison, storks and eagles, in addition to wolves. Covering 2,000 square kilometres, the forest provides a breeding ground for wolves during the winter months, with around 40 migrating to the area from late September, increasing to 160 by late January. However, according to Sidorovich, each year fewer wolves are breeding in the forest, and the lack of cubs is a growing concern.

While wolves in Belarus do pose a threat to livestock, particularly dogs, the impact on cattle is relatively rare. A study by Sidorovich found that in over 200 visits by wolves to human settlements, there were no recorded instances of cattle being attacked. The study also revealed that wolves predominantly visited small settlements at night, with larger villages being inspected at their boundaries. This suggests that human-wolf encounters can be minimised through careful settlement planning and management.

The conservation of wolves in Belarus is further complicated by the presence of other large predators, such as lynx, which compete with wolves for resources and are known to kill wolf cubs. This, coupled with the financial incentives for hunting wolves, poses a significant challenge to their long-term survival in the country. While ecotourism initiatives, such as those led by Sidorovich, offer some hope for increased protection, a more comprehensive approach to wolf conservation in Belarus is needed to ensure the survival of this endangered species.

Wolf-dog hybridisation in Belarus

Zoologist Vadim Sidorovich, who has extensively studied wolves in Belarus, particularly in the Naliboki Forest, has also encountered cases of wolf-dog hybridisation. In his blog, he mentions that deliberate hybridisation between wolves and hunting dogs has been known in Belarus since the Middle Ages. While such hybridisation was rarely observed in the wild, people, particularly those associated with hunting, continue to produce wolf-dog hybrids without a strong reason.

Since 2010, cases of wolf-dog hybridisation have been registered more frequently. Sidorovich and his team personally registered seven such cases and found that a rich prey supply and low grey wolf population density were the primary factors contributing to hybridisation. They also observed that hybridisation could occur when the grey wolf population density was not extremely low, and sexually mature wolves could find mates.

The formation of a wolf-dog pair is intriguing, given that wolves typically kill domestic dogs, especially during the mating season. Sidorovich proposes a hypothesis to explain this behavioural switch, suggesting that an adult male wolf may pair with an adult female dog that lives and hunts in the wild, marking and defending her territory. In the harsh winter conditions of Belarus, only smart dogs can survive by scavenging and hunting. Therefore, a rich prey supply is a crucial factor in the hybridisation process.

Sidorovich and his team also observed two cases of wolf-dog pairs in the Naliboki Forest and provided detailed accounts of their behaviour and interactions.

While wolf-dog hybridisation has been a concern, it is not the only factor influencing grey wolf reproduction in Belarus. Sidorovich and his colleague Irina Rotenko studied multi-breeding in wolf packs, finding that this phenomenon was more common than previously thought. They investigated 59 wolf breeding groups in northern and central-western Belarus and discovered that double-breeding, where two female wolves bred with a male wolf, occurred in most cases, with a few instances of triple-breeding. They concluded that multi-breeding was a density-dependent reproduction regulation strategy for wolves and was not solely dependent on the richness of the prey stock.

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