The Podkarpackie region is known not only for its picturesque landscapes and beautiful views from the mountain tops, but also for its wealth of wildlife. The area is a natural habitat for many rare and protected species of animals, for which vast expanses of old forests and unpolluted environment provide perfect conditions for living and raising their families. Owing to the unique ecosystems of the Bieszczady, the secluded forests of the Low Beskids and the quiet sanctuaries of the Roztocze this is an excellent place for those into wildlife tourism as well as animal tracking and birdwatching.
1. Lynx
Looking at this beautiful animal you can easily forget that it is the third largest predator in our country, preceded only by the bear and the wolf. These large cats feel best in the Bieszczady Mountains, the forests of the Low Beskids, the Dynowskie and Strzyżowskie Foothills and the southern parts of the Roztocze Highland. It is estimated that more than 200 individuals live in the region. Despite this, you are unlikely to meet them during your hiking trips. Lynx are loners – they mostly live on their own, and as befits cats, they follow their own paths. They range in body length between 65 cm and 110 cm and weigh up to 30 kg. Lynx are among a small group of large cats that... purr. Lions, tigers and leopards do not do that. The largest population of lynx in Poland inhabits the Podkarpackie region.
2. Wisent
Known also as European bison, these animals were brought to the Bieszczady in 1963 in an attempt to reintroduce the species in the Carpathian Mountains. The first five individuals were released into the wild after one-year long period of acclimation in an enclosure near Bereżki. At first, they stayed close to the farms and behaved like farm animals. Three years later, more individuals were brought to the Subcarpathian region. No one disturbed the animals, so they grazed freely in the fields. Within a few years, the herd increased to a few dozen individuals. Currently, there are more than 550 wisent in the Bieszczady. If you want to admire these magnificent animals in their natural habitat, you can visit the wisent enclosure in Muczne. It has been arranged in an area covering about seven hectares of land to give the animals a lot of freedom. Many ancient firs and spruces grow there, and the stream flowing through the middle of the area provides water. There are viewing terraces with roofing so that visitors can watch the animals in all kinds of weather.
3. Bear
Although it looks like a nice and pretty teddy, you have to remember that it really is a bear, the biggest predator in Poland. They usually avoid the company of people, but sometimes they happen to go astray and appear on a forest road. Back in the early 1970s, it was estimated there were about 20 bears in south-eastern Poland. In the 1990s there were 50, and a decade later about 100 individuals. Currently, there are more than 200 of these predators in the Subcarpathian region, mainly in the Bieszczady, the Low Beskids and the Przemyskie Foothills. They usually choose old fir trees with massive hollows for their winter dens, and they love feral pears and apples from old orchards.
4. Eurasian pygmy owl
One of the ‘ornithological rarities’ of the Podkarpackie region is the pygmy owl - the smallest owl that can be encountered in Europe. But, you must not be fooled by its small stature. Although it measures less than twenty centimetres in length, it is an excellent observer and an extremely skilful hunter. It preys on both small rodents and other birds. Why do pigmy owls feel here so well? They cannot carve out their own roosting holes, so they appreciate the ancient trees growing in the Subcarpathian region, where they can easily find nests once owned by other birds, and use these to raise their young. Although they look like miniature owls, they differ significantly from their larger cousins. Pigmy owls are diurnal birds. They are mainly active during the daylight hours, and they cannot see well at night. These charming little birds are under strict protection. The species is listed in the Polish Red Book and in Appendix I of the Birds Directive.
5. Red deer
It is hard to imagine the Subcarpathian landscape without the stately King of the wilderness. Red deer mainly inhabit deciduous and mixed forests, where, in addition to ancient trees, there are also dense young tree stands, meadows and marshes. They are herbivores and mainly feed on leaves, bark, fruit of trees and shrubs, grasses, mosses, lichens, buds and young shoots.
They stay in herds. One type of herd is made up of does and calves, and is led by the most experienced female. The males, on the other hand, form separate herds, led by the dominant stag. Adult deer weigh between 100 and 350 kg and measure up to 2.6 m in length. The males grow beautiful antlers, which are shed every year and grow back every year. One beam can weigh a few kilograms. Interestingly, the size and quality of the antlers depend on the stag’s age and diet. Over 14,000 red deer live in the forests of the Subcarpathian region.
The most beautiful Subcarpathian animals (VIDEO)
Description of the film: The film consists of slow-moving images showing the wild animals which can be encountered in the Podkarpackie Region. Soft and quiet music plays in the background.