Bieszczady. They counted bison in the Bieszczady Mountains. “The population is stable”

According to the spokesman for the Krosno RDLP Edward Marszałek, the bison population in the Bieszczady Mountains persists at a stable level. He stated that last year 811 individuals were counted, of which 9 in the show farm, while in 2023 there were 750 of these mammals.

“The annual inventory of bison in the Bieszczady Mountains, carried out in the Bieszczady Mountains, shows the stabilization of the population of these animals, as well as their territorial expansion. In total, 806 individuals were calculated in the Bieszczady Mountains, including 42 currently living in Slovakia on the southern side of the Bieszczady Mountains” – added Marszałek.

In contrast, 11 individuals live in the Muczne show farm.

As the spokesman pointed out, the herds of bison winter in the Forest District: Baligród, Cisna, Komańcza, Lesko, Lutowiska and Stuposiany. “In spring, bison distract and migrate into higher parts of the mountains, in the area where in the summer Żubrzyce raises their young” – he emphasized.

Individual individuals are also seen in the Forest Districts: Bircza, Brzozów, Dukla, Rymanów, and seasonal migrations are also observed to the area Slovakia.

According to the marshal, during this year's inventory the most numerous population, 342 individuals gathered in 14 groups were observed in the forests of the Baligród Forest District. The largest single herd of 49 individuals lived in the vicinity of the village of Kalnica.

A spokesman for the RDSF in Krosno reminded that foresters have been taking care of the bison in the Bieszczady Mountains for over 60 years.

He explained that the inventory is carried out on one selected day, at the beginning of March, in all units, also on private land. It is preceded by multi -day observation of herds. “Therefore, there is no fear of double noting the same individuals,” he added.

Foresters throughout the year conduct health monitoring of these animals. As the marshal pointed out, for over 10 years scientists dealing with this species have been concerned about the sound of the population, resulting in, among others Increasing damage to agricultural and forest crops, but above all causing an increase in the epidemiological threat associated with tuberculosis or telazjosis, which several dozen individuals fall every year. Bison are also victims of predators.

The first bison went to the Bieszczady in October 1963 to an acclimatization farm in the Stuposiana Forest District. In the spring of 1964 they were released. Originally, a wild herd had 17 individuals.

In recent years of 13 Bieszczady bison went to Bulgaria and Romaniawhere the herds living in the mountains joined.