The work summarizing the annual inventory of wild animals has been completed in the region.

Birds nesting in the forests of Podkarpacie include 33 golden eagles, over 60 owls and over 60 black storks. Their nesting sites are a protected zone.

According to the inventory made by foresters, in the forests Podkarpacie there are 36 thousand red deer, 10.1 thousand red deer, 9.2 thousand boars and 270 elks. The foresters have also counted 19.9 thousand pheasants and 8.8 thousand partridges. Beaver population has stabilized. In 2004 there were 2.1 thousand beavers, four years ago - 5.3 thousand, in 2013 - 8,8 thousand, in 2014 - 9.6 thousand and now 9.5 thousand.

According to Marszałek, Podkarpacie is the only region with such a wide range of large predators, including bear, wolf and lynx, as well as the largest herbivores, including bison, elk and red deer. "The forests of Podkarpacie are among the most important national mainstays of wildlife" - he emphasised.

According to the spokesman, high numbers of wildlife indicate a good condition of the forests, but they also means an increase in the cost of forest and agricultural crops. "Deer congregating in large herds can destroy seedling shoots, even those protected by special preparations" - noted Marszałek.

This year, the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno will spend more than 3.4 million zlotys on for chemical and mechanical protection of plants against animals. Then there are the costs of fencing part of forest plantations. In 2014, foresters fenced nearly 500 hectares for 2.6 million zlotys, this year they are planning to fence 555 hectares for 2.7 million zlotys. Foresters also chemically secure 4350 ha of forest against gnawing animals.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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