Speed and actual distances travelled by radiocollared wolves in Bialowieza Primeval Forest [Poland]

The relationship between the straight line distances (SLD), obtained from tele­metry locations, and actual distances travelled by wolves Canis lupus (ADT), measured by snowtracking, was investigated in Białowieża Primeval Forest, E Poland, in winter 1995/96. Radiolocations determined at 15-min time intervals approximated the ADT by wolves reasonably well. If wolves were relocated at 0.5- to 2-h intervals, SLD can be multiplied by a correction factor of 1.3 to obtain ADT. Within the range of SLD from 1 to 10 km, they could also be converted into ADT using a regression equation: ADT = 0.34 + 1.19(SLD), with standard errors of prediction ± 0.13 to ± 0.3 km. The average travelling speed of wolves was 3.78 km/h (SD 1.23, range 1.6-6.1 km). Wolves walking the forest trails, roads and frozen rivers moved significantly faster than in the forest. Also, individuals travelling with other pack members moved faster than those walking singly.