Questionnaire method for counting the number of animals, examples of questions. Basic methods of recording game animals

Methods for quantitative recording of animals

Methods for counting invertebrates

Collection and recording of invertebrate animals of the litter. To collect invertebrate animals of the litter, 1 m2 of litter is measured, the border of the square is marked (with sticks with a cord) and the entire cover is removed, which is then disassembled on a white background (possibly in parts). For each systematic group, biomass is determined (on pharmacy scales).

For this purpose, the class is divided into 2-4 groups, each of which takes separate samples of litter.

Collection and recording of invertebrates in the upper soil horizons. To study invertebrates in the upper soil horizons, sample plots measuring 10 x 10 cm are laid. After removing the litter, a hole is dug to the depth of horizon A. The raised soil is carefully sifted through an entomological sieve. Found animals are distributed into groups taking into account the number and biomass of individuals in each group; biomass is determined on a pharmacy scale.

Lighter and more accurate methods for recording soil and litter mesofauna.

For a more accurate accounting of invertebrate animals in the litter and soil, methods are used flotation And dry extraction .

Method flotation boils down to the fact that all (or most) of the invertebrates located in the litter or in the upper soil horizon, when the latter are poured with a saturated solution of table salt, float to the surface layer of the solution. All surfaced animals are collected using a fine-mesh sieve. The procedure is repeated several times until the animals stop floating up.

Method dry extraction longer in time, but in some cases gives more accurate results. This method is based on the fact that soil animals move to moist areas of the soil, while avoiding drying out. To collect invertebrates using the dry extraction method, a soil or litter sample is taken, placed on a sieve (not very fine) and placed under a metal reflector with a 100 W lamp. A tray (with high sides) with a 50% alcohol solution should be placed under the sieve. The distance between the lamp and the sample should be about 25 cm. Every 2 hours, the lamp is moved towards the sample by 5 cm until the distance between the lamp and the sample becomes 5 cm. The reflector is left in this position for 24 hours. In this case, small arthropods move down and through the sieve fall into a tray with a 50% alcohol solution.

Accounting of invertebrate animals of the herbaceous layer. To count invertebrate animals of the herbaceous layer, the most widely used method is mowing with a net. To do this, you need to face the sun and make 50 double swings of the net in one direction or another, but always in a new place, closer to the soil.

Collection of 50 sweeps of the net during mowing corresponds to the number of animals in a test area of ​​1 m2. The collected invertebrates, along with the label, are placed in a stain. In the laboratory, they are sorted into systematic groups, the number of individuals in each group is counted, and their biomass is determined by weighing on a pharmacy scale.

When collecting invertebrate animals of the herbaceous layer, it is better to divide the class into groups (3-5 people), each of which collects material in different areas.

To calculate the number of insects per unit area, use the formula:

Where R- number of insects per 1 m2, N- the number of insects caught by the net, D - the diameter of the net (in m), L - the average length of the path traversed by the hoop of the net along the grass stand with each swing (in m), n - the number of swings of the net.

Accounting of invertebrate animals in tree crowns. To record invertebrate animals, tree crowns are most applicable in school practice. method of shaking animals from trees.

To collect the material, a white cloth (sheet, film) is spread under the tree. Invertebrates that have fallen from the tree are collected in stains (with a 50% alcohol solution), provided with labels, and sorted into systematic groups in the laboratory. Then their numbers are determined and the biomass is found on a pharmacy scale.

Methods for counting amphibians and reptiles

The most common method for counting amphibians and reptiles is route accounting method. This method allows you to count animals in a certain detection strip with a length of 100-500 m.

When accounting amphibians the census taker must move along the coastline, registering animals in a strip 5 m wide (2.5 m in the water and 2.5 m on the shore).

When accounting reptiles animals are counted along the route on a strip 3 m wide (1.5 m to the right and 1.5 m to the left of the counting officer).

The obtained data, both for amphibians and reptiles, are recalculated per 1 km of the survey route.

Bird counting methods

Of all existing methods Bird counting is the simplest and most accessible in school practice conditions. absolute counting method on a constant detection band.

The time of bird counting must be timed to coincide with the period of greatest “visibility” (best detectability) of birds of most species in each natural area. The survey should be carried out in the morning in calm weather.

Routes for counting are laid out in such a way that they pass through all the most typical biotopes of a given area, with a typical ratio of their areas. The speed of the census taker in forest biotopes should not exceed 2 km/h; in open lands it can be slightly higher - up to 3 km/h.

The essence of the method of accounting on a constant detection strip comes down to the following. When moving along the route, the counting officer notes by voice or visually all birds heard and seen on both sides of the route strip. The width of the strip for closed habitats, in particular forests, is usually recommended at 50 m (25 + 25), sometimes (with sparse grass and shrubs) - up to 100 m (50 + 50).

One of the mandatory conditions for recording is the need to record birds only in a designated area. With some skill visual determination a distance of 25 m turns out to be quite accurate. In order not to re-count the same bird, which was first found in front of the moving counter, and then found itself on the side of him when he approached, it is better to record the bird when it is in a conditional sector 45˚ wide from the perpendicular to the direction of movement of the counter. In some cases, it is necessary to record single birds, even if they are found behind the counter.

The reliability of a one-time bird count is on average 70%, that is, approximately 3/4 of the birds living here are identified on the count strip. It should be noted that the singing male is mistaken for a pair of birds.

To summarize the results of route accounting (find the density of the species), the formula is used

Where r- species density, Q‚ - abundance of species, L- route length, D- route width, A- activity coefficient (for forest birds - 0.6, for birds of open spaces - 0.8).

Mammal census methods

Currently, among the methods of absolute counting of small mammals, the most widely used are method trap -lines And method trappers grooves (fences ). The trap-line method is appropriate where various species of mice, bank voles, and hamsters dominate, and the trap-ditch method is appropriate where shrews, mouse mice, lemmings, and others dominate. small mammals, which rarely dig holes.

The essence of the trap-line method comes down to the following. The counting line should consist of a number of traps (preferably live traps), a multiple of 25, 50, 100, etc. Each trap is loaded with bait and placed in the biotope being studied. The most common bait used is a crust of black bread soaked in vegetable oil.

Traps are placed in the afternoon at a distance of 5 m from one another (7-8 steps) in a straight line. For traps, choose the places where the animals are most likely to be caught (under a lying log, near a stump, near a protruding root, etc.). The traps are checked the next morning. The period of stay of traps in the biotope is usually two days. The accounting results are rejected if it went on all night heavy rain. Short-term and light precipitation is not taken into account.

The abundance indicator is the number of caught animals per 100 trap-days. For example, there were 200 traps in the forest for two days. 28 animals were caught in them. Consequently, 28 animals were caught per 400 trap-days, and 28 animals per 100 trap-days: 4 = 7 animals. For each animal species, the abundance indicator is calculated independently.

The essence of the catch groove method is as follows. To count animals using this method, grooves are used with a length of 50 m, a width and depth of 25 cm. 5 tin (aluminum) cylinders (cones) with a diameter equal to the width of the bottom of the groove and a height of 45-50 cm are dug into each groove. The cylinders are placed at intervals 10 m, with 5 m remaining at the edges of the groove. The cylinders must be dug so that their edges are in close contact with the vertical walls of the groove, and the upper edge of the cylinder is 0.5-1 cm below the edge of the groove. When digging a ditch, the earth and turf must be removed from the ditch by 10-15 m and placed in one place. All animals caught in the cylinders are removed.

The accounting unit is the number of animals caught during 10 days of operation of one ditch (the number of animals per 10 ditch-days).

For an environmental assessment of the structure and functioning of ecosystems, it is necessary to know a number of indicators, which are also determined by statistical methods. These indicators include: species richness (number of species in a community) - S, Simpson's diversity index - D(the more D approaching S, the more diverse the community), Simpson's evenness index - E(the more this index approaches 1, the more evenly all species are represented in the community), the similarity index between two Sørensen - Chekanovsky samples - TOS, coefficient of species faunal community of Jaccard - TOJ, Student's reliability coefficient - t(differences are considered reliable if the coefficient value is at least greater than 2, but better - greater than 2.5).

Simpson Diversity Index is calculated using the formula

Where ri, - share i-of that species in the total number of individuals of all species.

Example. Let us assume that we have discovered the following in the community under study: species composition:

		Number of individuals Q	ri
	Dragonfly rocker
	Grasshopper green
	Amber snail
	grass bug
	Pea aphid
	Clover weevil
	Earthworm
		ΣQ = 262		Σpi2 = 0,2718077

Share i-of that species in the total number of individuals of all species is calculated as follows:

Where Q is the number of a particular species, and Σ Q- the total number of all detected species.

For dragonfly rocker arms, for example, ri = 1 = 0,0038167.

Taking these data into account, we find D(Simpson Diversity Index). Substituting numerical values ​​into the formula, we get:

D= 1 ≈ 3.67. This means that the species composition of this community

small, monotonous.

Simpson's evenness index is calculated using the formula

Where D- Simpson's diversity index, S– species richness (number of species found in a community).

Quantitative accounting, or accounting of the number of animals, serves as one of the methodological techniques for studying them. population ecology. The results of quantitative accounting are the basis for the study of ecosystems and populations of individual species in biogeocenosis.

Quantitative accounting allows us to characterize the following

1) the quantitative ratio of animal species inhabiting individual biotopes, lands or the entire study area as a whole;

2) the structure of zoocenoses, identifying from them groups of dominant, common and rare forms;

3) the relative abundance (number) of individuals of each species in different areas and biotopes of the study area;

4) changes in the number of animals over time, seasonal or long-term;

5) the number of individuals living per unit area at the moment

Methods for counting numbers are divided into two large groups: relative and absolute.

Relative accounting methods give an idea of ​​the relative abundance (number) of animals.

Absolute counting makes it possible to determine the number of animals per unit area.

Relative accounting methods, in turn, are divided into two groups: the first group of relative indirect accounting methods and the second group of relative direct accounting methods.

group of relative indirect accounting methods

Estimation of the number of animals using biological indicators.

Analysis of pellets of birds of prey.

group of methods regarding direct accounting

Accounting method on trap lines.

Method of counting using trap ditches and (or) fences.

Absolute head count

1. Counting the population using animal tagging and identification

their individual plots.

2. Complete catching of animals in isolated areas.

Methods for studying the spatial distribution of vertebrates

The spatial structure of populations of organisms depends on the ecological characteristics of the species and on the structure of the habitat.

Theoretically, the distribution of organisms in space can be random, uniform and non-random, or group. Random distribution of organisms is observed if the habitat is homogeneous over a large area, and individuals do not tend to unite into groups. Uniform distribution is also characteristic of organisms inhabiting a homogeneous environment, but these are, as a rule, strictly territorial species with developed competitive abilities. group (non-random) distribution is characteristic of species adapted to develop the environment in groups of various sizes (families, herds, colonies, etc.) or living in a highly mosaic environment.

Any type of spatial structure of a species is adaptive in nature and is its important characteristic.

Understanding the basic patterns that shape the spatial distribution of the inhabitants of a given environment makes it possible to predict changes in the composition, number and distribution of the animal population.

Based on the nature of the use of space, sedentary animals with a distinct habitat are distinguished and nomadic animals.

The study of the spatial distribution of vertebrates is based on mapping the habitats of animals.

Ecological and zoogeographical research requires the study of large areas.

Mapping the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates carried out using route or site surveys.

Habitat mapping. For secretive animals (amphibians, reptiles, mammals), the habitat area is determined by the method of repeated catching of marked animals in a certain area.

Animal tagging . There are various ways to mark animals: dyeing with dyes, cutting off their fur or horny scutes, various rings, radio transmitters, isotopes, etc. The simplest and most reliable method is the method of finger amputation different combinations in small animals.

Another method can be used to mark reptiles. On the head, the shields are carefully pulled out with tweezers in a pre-agreed combination.

Small mammals are caught in live traps or trapping cones placed on the site in a checkerboard pattern, at a distance of 20 m from each other.

In order to reduce the habituation of animals to traps, it is necessary to practice their frequent rearrangement.

The species, sex, age group, and participation in reproduction are determined for the caught animals.

The study of bird habitats is based on direct observation of them. The location of the found nest, perch, flight routes, places of rest and food acquisition, lek territories, etc. are marked on a pre-prepared map.

To date, several methods for counting the number of reptiles have been developed and used. The most common is the method of tape samples, widespread in ecology, which in studies by domestic authors is usually used in the modification of L. G. Dinesman and M. L. Kaletskaya (1952).

This method boils down to the following.

1. The census is carried out on a tape (transect), the width of which is 3 m. The length of such a tape when counting should usually be at least 1 - 1.5 km.

2. Each similar tape must be located within biotopes of the same type.

3. Counts should be carried out during maximum activity of animals (seasonal, daily).

This method of quantitative accounting is applicable in all natural areas and in all biotopes.

Another method often used to determine the number of reptiles is the sample plot method. This method consists of counting all animals on precisely measured sites by catching them, and the results obtained, with appropriate corrections, are transferred to the entire study area. Due to the fact that the sand lizard has an uneven distribution of individuals within the biotope occupied by the population, optimal size representative sites in each case should be determined empirically (Tertyshnikov, 1970, 1972b). If one population occupies slightly different biotopes, then several such sites should be established. Counting animals on sites makes it possible to determine the average density. The absolute number of sand lizards living in the population under study will be equal to the sum of the products of the average density of animals in each of these areas and its area. The site method is applicable only when we can accurately determine the boundaries occupied by the group of individuals being studied (an island, a small green hollow between the sands, etc.). In all other cases, the data obtained will not reflect the actual size of the population.

An interesting method for determining the size of sand lizard populations is the ringing method (Dinesman, Kaletskaya, 1952; Zharkova, 1973b). The described method is based on determining the number of adult males; the number of females and immature lizards is established by additional calculations, using the obtained data on the ratio of sexual and age groups in the population. The number of sexually mature males is determined by repeatedly catching them and ringing them.

Finally, when determining the number, the method of “species areas” is used (Laptev, 1930), the number of individuals is also calculated at the highest activity of animals. The calculation is carried out using the following formula:

П = n/υ × t × ω,

where P is the density of the species, n is the number of individuals encountered, υ is the speed of the counter, t is the duration of the count, ω is the viewing width.

To unify the data provided by different researchers when determining the number of sand lizards in different populations, we used the following version of the methodology. The route to record the number of lizards was laid out during periods of maximum daily activity(usually the first half of the day); The area of ​​the territory where the route passed was calculated approximately (in steps or meters); The total number of caught individuals was calculated, to which were added individuals noticed but not caught. Experience has shown that it is advisable to determine the number of individuals for territories of the order of several tens of hectares. This is due to the fact that the calculated figures for 1 hectare do not reflect the actual picture of the territorial distribution of lizards in the population (see Chapter II).

For example, observers moved in one direction along a railway embankment. The number of individuals caught was 55; For every lizard caught, there were an average of 2 that escaped. The length of the investigated area was 350 m, the width of the embankment was 5.5 m. Thus, 55 + 110 = 165 specimens were discovered on an area of ​​1925 m2. lizards The average population density of this biotope is in this case 8.6 individuals/1000 m2. Naturally, some of the individuals escape observation unnoticed, other lizards find themselves in hiding at the moment of observation, and finally, certain part animals may be outside the boundaries of a given biotope at the time of observation. All this complicates an accurate count of the population of a given territory, and the figures obtained by this method will be somewhat underestimated.

Accordingly, the materials taken for this chapter from literary sources were recalculated in copies per 1000 m 2. For example, V.K. Zharkova (1973a) carried out a census of the number of sand lizards in the northern forest-steppe of the European part of the USSR using the “tape sampling” method. The length of her census line was usually 2000 m with a width of 2 m. Population density was characterized by the average number of individuals per route of 1000 m, and the absolute number was characterized by the number of individuals per hectare.

In this case, the surveyed area of ​​one route is 1000 x 2 = 2000 m2. If 50 lizards live in this area, then per 1000 m 2 the number of living lizards will be 25 individuals.

Accounting for game animals on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out according to uniform methods approved by the Main Directorate of Hunting and Nature Reserves. Before the development and approval of a unified set of accounting methods for all types of hunting resources, and this is a serious long-term work, in the practice of hunting, accounting work for a number of species is carried out in accordance with the scientific and methodological recommendations of game management institutions, scientists and hunting specialists. Many areas of improvement of accounting work are already in effect. guidelines.

According to the Regulations on the State Service for Registration of Hunting Resources of the Russian Federation, records of game animals in designated hunting areas are carried out by hunting users and at the expense of these organizations.

The registration of game animals is carried out by district game managers, game wardens of the hunting supervision service, game wardens of commercial and sporting farms, and game wardens of hunting farms; Qualified professional hunters are involved in the census. In the districts, the organization of registration work and the collection of registration material is carried out by the district game manager. In hunting farms and hunting farms of hunter societies, the organization of accounting work is carried out by the game manager of the farm.

Ground work in the areas is carried out by census takers, including qualified professional hunters. The district game warden provides the census takers with forms and brief instructions on conducting accounting, conducts oral instruction on methods, sets deadlines for carrying out work and submitting completed accounting forms in duplicate.

During census work directly on the hunting grounds of industrial farms of the Far North, the main attention is paid to fur-bearing game animals. Ungulates over large areas are counted, as a rule, with the help of aircraft.

Winter registration of game animals

The route card is filled out at the accommodation. The number of tracks of different species of animals is calculated according to the route diagram for different lands, data on bird sightings, the length of the route by land category are transferred, and all other columns are filled in. A separate card is filled out for each route.

Traces of daily animal remains are carried out throughout the entire recording period. This work is entrusted to the most knowledgeable and competent hunters. It is advisable for each accountant to collect the daily traces of various types of animals.

To determine the number of game animals based on winter route census materials, it is necessary to know the average travel length of each species. This value is calculated based on tracking sufficiently large number daily traces of individual animals.

Many animals can lie down several times during the day, so determining the age of a track can be difficult in some cases. To avoid mistakes, tracking should be carried out one day after at least a small powder.

Some ungulates have a clear daily rhythm: the length of their tracks can be determined exactly within a daily interval as follows. On the first day, the census taker goes out into the area and follows a fresh trail to find the animal. When approaching an animal (which can be judged by the state of the trail), extreme caution is necessary so as not to disturb the pursued animal. The daily trail is followed on the second day “to catch up” from the place of the first meeting to the point of its re-discovery. In this case, you should calculate the speed of your movement in such a way as to catch up with the animal 24 hours after the first meeting. When tracking, it is not recommended to scare away the animal until it is registered visually, which requires the census taker to be extremely careful. If the animal is nevertheless startled, this is usually easily determined by the nature of the trail or the noise of the fleeing animal. The final point of tracking in this case should be considered the place where the animal was before flushing.

Sometimes it is possible to hunt down individual individuals in two, three or more days. The description of such a move is of great value, since it is equivalent to two, three, etc., tracking. If such a move is tracked, when recording at the top of the tracking card, you should indicate that this is a two-, three-, four-day move of the animal. Sometimes they trail a herd (roe deer, elk, deer), a brood (boar) or a couple of animals. In this case, the number of individuals in the observed group is indicated next to the name of the animal species, at the top of the card.

A commercial hunter, as he accumulates experience of a long stay in hunting grounds, learns very complex patterns of behavior of wild animals and birds, knows their way of life very well, which allows him to carry out professional censuses.

Weather. Days with moderate frost, without precipitation and wind carrying drifting snow are favorable for tracking. On days with snowfalls, blizzards or crust on which the animal leaves no traces or leaves only faintly visible prints, work cannot be carried out.

You need to have with you notebook large format or tablet, compass and tape measure (instead of a tape measure, you can use a stick with divisions marked on it).

It is more convenient to work together. In this case, after finding the trail, the trackers disperse: one follows the trail to the resting place or place where the animal settles, and the second follows the trail “at the heel” to the place where the animal was after the powder. Thus, the entire daily movement of the animal is completely exhausted. If the accountant works alone, he, depending on local conditions, first follows the trail or “heel”, and then in the opposite direction.

Measuring the length of the diurnal cycle. The length of the animal's course is measured in steps. Depending on the depth and condition of the snow, as well as whether a person is walking or skiing, the length of the step varies greatly. Therefore, you should measure your step several times during each trail. To do this, measure 10 steps and the resulting result is divided by 10. The average step length (with an accuracy of 1 cm) is recorded in a book.

Record. The trail tracking plan is sketched out schematically in a book or on a tablet. The number of steps is recorded on the same diagram. It is advisable to take measurements over small segments (for example, from the bedding area to the feeding area; during feeding; from the feeding area to the area where the animal stood, etc.). On these segments they mark which lands the animal walked through. Upon returning home, they fill out a “tracking card” and redraw the tracking diagram on the back of it. The tracking card is handed over to the district game warden or another person responsible for registration work in the area.

Processing of accounting data. The data from several routes of one meter are summarized and entered into the table as a separate line. Add up the length of the route for each category of land and the number of animals encountered in each category of land.

Then the accounting indicator Pu is determined: the number of tracks is divided by the length of the route (km) and multiplied by 10, to obtain the average number of tracks encountered per 10 km of the route.

To determine population density, the counting indicator (the number of tracks per 10 km of route) is multiplied by the conversion factor K. It is equal to 1.57 divided by the average length (km) of the animal’s daily movement. The coefficient is determined by the State Hunting Accounting Center of the Russian Federation and reported to regional hunting organizations. It can also be calculated based on data from tracking in the region, if quite a lot of separate tracking has been carried out for each type of animal. The coefficient can also be determined by comparing animal counts at trial sites and routes, if the combined count was carried out in the same places and at the same time.

example. On an area of ​​300 hectares, 8 white hares were counted. In these places, an average of 24.3 hare tracks are found per 10 km of route. The population density P of hares at the site is equal to P - (8:300) x 1000 = 26.7 individuals per 1000 hectares. The conversion factor will be K= R/P = 26.7/24.3= 1.1.

If all the names of quantities are met, the population density is obtained in individuals per 1000 hectares.

Accounting of the main species of wild ungulates

The most common method is aerial census of ungulates, which is determined by the ease of surveying large areas and the possibility of obtaining a significant volume of primary material. Widespread received aerial surveys using photographic equipment to determine the number of ungulate clusters (wild reindeer) in the open spaces of the tundra and a visual survey of moose in the forest zone.

For commercial hunters, accounting based on encounters and discovered traces of life activity is most acceptable. Being on his property for a long time, the fisherman usually knows quite accurately how many moose are kept and where; he is able to mark this on the site map in relation to the area

habitats. So, if animals are kept in a floodplain complex, then the number of moose is determined per 1 thousand hectares of these particular lands, etc. The exception is the so-called “camps”, when animals in winter gather from surrounding lands for relatively small food and areas with little snow. Population density, that is, the number of animals per 1 thousand hectares of such land, will not be characteristic of all other types of land, even those similar to “stall” areas, but where elk, for some reason, are not found in such numbers. In this case, visual accounting must be carried out precisely according to the “posts”.

In winter, excrement surveys can be carried out for elk, deer, and roe deer. During the period of feeding on woody food, that is, in winter, the excrement of ungulates differs in appearance from those excreted at other times of the year. The number of bowel movements in moose is relatively stable. Knowing the number of excrement left by a moose over a certain period of time, it is possible to determine their number per animal over the entire period of time. winter season. The number of excrements varies depending on the habitat and the age-sex structure of the animal population.

The census is carried out in early spring. To do this, you need to know the duration of the period of use of tree feed and the average number of excrements per day. The beginning of the period of feeding on winter food coincides with the appearance of the autumn color of the vegetation, and the end coincides with the appearance of the first leaves of the tree species eaten by elk: willow, aspen, birch and rowan. The average period of feeding on winter food for moose is 200 days.

The average number of defecations per “average” moose is determined by tracking the daily movement of the animal in the area where census work is carried out. Thus, in the northern regions, one adult moose produces 12-17 piles of excrement per day.

Determining the winter population of animals is possible only in places with a relatively constant number of animals. The census is carried out immediately after the snow melts, before the grass cover appears. Counting routes 4 m wide (the distance at which excrement is clearly visible) are laid in all types of land, in proportion to their area, that is, in large areas, more routes are laid and, conversely, in smaller ones, fewer routes are laid. Discovered old piles of excrement, which are usually covered with last year's grass and have a more intense black color, and fade in the sun, are not counted. To summarize, by means of simple arithmetic calculations it is possible to determine the density of the elk population in certain areas in the past winter, and therefore have a definite forecast for the next hunting season.

The moose habitat area is 100 thousand hectares; the duration of elk excrement in winter is 200 days; daily number of bowel movements (number of piles on average per animal) 15; total route length 120 km; registration area (registration tape area) 0.4x120=48 hectares; the number of recorded excrements is 240. The number of piles per 1 thousand hectares = 1000x240/48 = 5000. The density of moose (individuals per thousand hectares) = 5000/200x15 = 1.6. Total number of moose (individuals) = 1.6x100=160.

Registration of fur animals

Sable population count. According to current methodological recommendations To record the number of sable, this work is recommended to be carried out at the end or after the end of the fishery, in February - March, before the appearance of ice crust. The technique of counting sable varies depending on the methods of counting.

Route relative accounting based on tracks. In contrast to absolute counts (also called quantitative), with relative counts it is not individual animals that are recorded, but their fresh, no more than a day old, tracks crossing the route. The accountant does not take on the task of determining the number of individuals (sables) and thereby avoids mistakes. The counting indicator is the number of tracks per 10 km of route (by type of land). Relative accounting is carried out on all routes through hunting grounds, i.e. at registration sites and during transitions from one site to another. Clerks continuously monitor the length of the route on the map, the duration of the move (by the clock) and by eye (with subsequent reconciliation on the map).

The routes cross lands and forests without choice, adhering to approximately the same direction. In mountain forest valleys they go “half a mountain”, without repeating the small bends of the river. In the sub-alpine belt there are edges of forest stands and elfin pine.

The route is marked by outlines M 1:10,000 and 1:25,000.

All traces no more than a day old are recorded, including all traces of animals that cross the route several times. A single daily wake is taken as one wake, a double and a reverse one - as two. A fattening is counted as one track (if the animal left the fattening in the direction from which it came); the path is taken to be four tracks. If the records are kept based on traces that are two days old, then their number is divided by two. For three- or more-day-old powder, in order to avoid confusion, only fresh, one-day traces are taken into account. The outline of the route, drawn on the same day in the evening on a scale diagram, is the main primary accounting document.

Counting sable on trial sites (mapping the distribution of sables) is the main method of absolute (quantitative) counting. Sables are counted by their tracks in relatively small areas that differ in composition, food supply or degree of industrialization of the land.

Animals are mobile, their number on the counting site changes over time. Therefore, to obtain estimated population density indicators, several (at least three) test sites are laid out in each type or complex of land. A site located in the same type of land is preferable, but it is rarely possible to choose one. More often, sites are laid out in land complexes characteristic of the region, guided when choosing by knowledge of the area and data from exploration routes. It is desirable that the registration area be limited to lands that are unproductive or unusual for sable - chars, sparse forests, open valleys. Typically, the site includes a forested valley of a small river with streams and valleys flowing into it, or 2-3 adjacent valleys. The shape of the site is preferably round or square, but it can also be elongated depending on the configuration of forests, topography and other terrain features.

A site on which there are no tracks or only one sable is counted does not give the right to calculate the population density of the animal. The boundaries of the site must be expanded until traces of at least two sables are discovered. With an expected density of less than one sable per 1000 hectares, the minimum area will be about 2.0 thousand hectares (20 km2), preferably somewhat larger. Smaller sites can be established only at a density of 3 or more sables per 1000 hectares.

The test site is passed through a network of routes, with the same outlines being maintained as in the case of relative accounting. The difference is that the recorder undertakes to determine the number of sables that left tracks (crossed the route). The tracks of individual animals are distinguished by size, sex of the animal, individual characteristics, and always by the direction of travel. The tracks belonging to the same sable are “grouped” on the outline (connected by a dotted line that follows the animal’s path). Errors in determining the number of individuals will be approximately the same in the direction of exaggeration or understatement and will overlap to a large extent. The “counted” sables from the outlines of the routes are transferred to the diagram of the trial site: in this way their distribution is mapped and the number is counted.

The routes pass the boundaries of the registration area, cross large homogeneous forests and low-value lands in order to characterize them more fully. Along 50 km2 of sable lands, it is necessary to pass at least 70-100 km of survey routes: this means that when laying parallel routes, they should pass from each other at a distance of 1-1.5 km.

Multiple tracks make it difficult to keep track, so it is advisable to cross out the “recorded” tracks of animals – “overwrite them” so that on the way back, or repeating the route, it is easy to notice fresh tracks.

When carrying out exploration work in areas uninhabited and sparsely populated by sable, it is recommended to count on a route tape using additional indicators and coefficients for calculating the stock.

Recording on a route tape, the width of which is taken to be the average length of a sable's daily course, is widely used in winter route recording.

To calculate density, it is necessary to obtain, by tracking “model” sables, the average length of a sable’s daily walk that is reliable for a given area and time.

Having ready-made indicators of relative accounting, density is calculated in a simplified way: the conversion factor (K = 1.57), taken from formula (1), is multiplied by the number of tracks per 10 km of route.

Counting sable on a route tape, the width of which is taken to be the average diameter of the daily habitat of one animal, requires the census taker to have special skills in “reading” tracks, just as when counting animals on a test site.

In terms of the technique of execution, the outlines of this survey do not differ from the routes on the test site: all traces of one day ago are marked on them, based on the direction, size and other features of which the number of individuals crossing the route per day is determined. Traces belonging to one animal are “grouped”. The width of the counting tape is determined by tracking “model” sables.

The population count of squirrels is carried out in the autumn, during the pre-harvest period. For the European part of the Russian Federation best time- October, for the regions of the North and Siberia - the second half of September, since at this time it is possible to count the cubs of the second brood who left the nests, while the total mass of animals has basically already finished migrating. To count with a husky, 3-5 routes are selected in the most typical natural conditions for a given area. The length of each route is 10-15 km.

Accounting results depend on weather conditions, which determine the activity of the squirrel and the performance of the dog. The greatest influence is exerted by wind, air temperature and precipitation. The census is carried out at a wind speed of no more than 11-13 m/s, at which large branches on the trees sway. In the wind greater strength The dog not only hears the animal poorly, but may not even notice its movement. As a rule, when there is a strong wind in dense dark coniferous stands, the squirrel walks low, and in light coniferous or sparse dark coniferous forests it is less active. It is also necessary to take into account that the forest weakens the force of the wind.

For accounting, the most favorable air temperature is from 2 to 5 °C, but they can also be carried out at temperatures from -15 to 15 °C. A decrease in temperature below -15 °C reduces the activity of the animal, and an increase above 15 °C impairs the dog’s work, which negatively affects the reliability of records due to an increase in the number of omissions. An increase in temperature after frosty weather, when the squirrel is active and feeds for a long time, is favorable for surveys.

The routes are laid in typical squirrel lands, mainly in coniferous forest plantations, in such a way as to cover all the features of the relief and vegetation: stream forests, watersheds, edges, and valleys. It is impossible to carry out censuses mainly in squirrel areas, otherwise the data on the number of animals will be overestimated.

To lay out routes, you can use the neighborhood network, but not roads and dirt paths, since the dog passes part of the route along them and, therefore, does not search for the animal.

Before conducting censuses, prepare the simplest scheme area of ​​future work and draw routes on it. In addition, the accountant must have a compass and watch, a notebook, pencils, route forms and preferably a pedometer.

Accounting for game animals with a dog

The dog must work well on squirrels, have a smooth and fast “shuttle” or “circular” search, not moving further than 100-300 m from the counter. A dog with a very broad or straightforward search is unsuitable for accounting work.

The width of the counting tape is determined by the width of the dog’s search and is calculated by doubling the distance from the route line to the place where the squirrel was found by the dog, equaling 50-100 m in dark coniferous stands, 200-220 m in light coniferous stands. The distance is determined by counting steps. If you have a pedometer, record its indicators at the beginning of the passage of each new type of habitat of the animal, indicating the age of the forest stand: spruce forest (ripe, ripening, middle-aged, young), etc. If there is no pedometer, at the beginning of the passage of each new habitat of the animal, record the time in hours and minutes , which makes it possible to calculate the length of the entire route and each habitat of the animal based on the sum of time. Typically, in forest areas, the walking speed of the census taker is 2 km/h, increasing to 3 km/h in the forests, not counting the time it takes to approach and look out for the animal.

The best way is to measure the route and its segments with a curvimeter or ruler on a large-scale map, for which you need to copy the diagrams in advance. In this case, the protein meeting places are plotted directly on the diagram, which facilitates record keeping and subsequent processing. It is advisable to carry out accounting together.

At the beginning of the route, the recorder writes down in the field diary: a) the name of the farm, forestry or the nearest settlement and the location, in relation to it, of the route (distance in kilometers from the beginning of the route from the settlement); b) accounting date (day, month, year); c) state of weather conditions - cloudiness, air temperature, wind strength, precipitation, depth of snow cover and its condition; d) a brief description of the habitat - its type, age of the forest stand, crown density, presence of undergrowth and regrowth of the main tree species (its density), composition of the forest stand. For mixed forest stands, all tree species are noted in descending order (for example, a spruce forest with an admixture of pine and birch). They assess the yield of the squirrel's main food: pine cones, seeds and fruits; e) start time of recording in hours and minutes.

The dog is allowed to search and begin to move along the route. Throughout the entire route, the nature of the dog’s search is noted: its width and coverage of the territory. In the presence of difficult-to-pass habitats, the time of narrowing the search and the width of the counting tape are noted. The time of search expansion is also noted.

The beginning of the squirrel's barking is also recorded in a diary (hours and minutes). After this, the recorder, counting the steps, approaches the skating area in a straight line. The size of a step or a pair of steps is determined by the accountant in advance. Having found out the reason for the barking, when he finds a squirrel, he makes a note in his diary and writes down the type of tree. Notes the presence of an animal gnawing near the tree. If it is not possible to spot the squirrel, then, if you are sure that the animal is still in the tree, the recorder makes a note: the squirrel was found, but not detected. He marks the location of the squirrel on the route map. Next, the dog is put on a leash, taken away from the lapping area and again allowed to search. A note is made in the diary about the time the search began (hours and minutes).

At the end of the route survey, the time directly spent passing through each type of habitat is determined and the length of the route segments is calculated. In the future, encounters are summarized by habitat type and overall along the route. Depending on the type of habitat, the height of the trees, the density and development of the crowns, the dog detects one or another part of the squirrels present on the route tape. It has been experimentally established that, on average, in dark coniferous areas it detects 53%, and in light coniferous areas - 89% of the animals living there. When passing the route three times (including shooting animals), the dog favorable conditions detects all squirrels.

Counting small mustelids

The count of the number of small mustelids - ermine, weasel, polecat - is carried out using the ZMU method, but there are also certain modifications.

Ermine can be counted by tracks in the snow, laying out test areas of 5-10 km2. The routes are laid at approximately the same distance from one another. Having encountered traces of an animal, they are followed or walked around, finding out the area where it lives, mapping it on a diagram: in this way the number of animals living here is determined. Counting ermine on a route tape is less labor-intensive. To do this, they walk along the banks of streams and rivers, noting all the traces of animals they encounter, indicating their size (large - K, medium - C, small - M). When processing counting data, it is believed that each track, different in size from the neighboring one, belongs to a different animal. In this way, the number of animals on the route traveled is taken into account.

When conducting route surveys, on the same days the average width of the ermine’s daily burrow is determined by tracking the burrows. The average width of the animal's daily movement is taken as the width of the counting tape. In areas rich in mouse-like rodents, the approximate standard for the average length of an ermine's daily walk is 230-270 m for a male and 115-135 m for a female. In areas with less food availability, the animal moves more widely and has a larger individual area. If there are sufficiently wide river basins, the routes are laid in parallel at a distance of 500 m from one another (route width).

Mink and otter census

Mink numbers can be counted in summer period, it’s best with a husky dog ​​to explore the animal’s residential burrows along the coastline. However, more reliable data are obtained during winter tracking of mink. The mink's track is paired, round in shape, similar to the track of other mustelids. When jumping, the mink makes triple and quadruple tracks, in which the prints of the hind paws are located slightly behind the front ones. The tracks of females are smaller than those of males.

At the beginning of winter, before snow falls, the census taker walks around the banks of reservoirs and rivers, inspects the coastal strip, and notes traces of minks. The animal’s shelters are located up to 50 m from the shore; in winter, burrows are often located near the water itself. The count is carried out at the beginning of winter due to the fact that with the formation of voids under the ice, with the onset of severe frosts and the fall of deep snow, the animal rarely comes to the surface. Therefore, large errors are possible in the direction of underestimating its numbers when counting.

Mink tracks encountered at a distance of more than 250 m from one another are mistaken for the tracks of another animal. The census is carried out by continuously walking around the banks along the survey route. The mink population density indicator is calculated in relation to the length of the coastline, expressed in kilometers. It is impossible to extrapolate the obtained indicators to the entire length of the coastline if it has not been surveyed. It must be borne in mind that the mink does not stay in the otter's habitat.

The otter census is carried out in the same way, but due to its greater movement in the areas, the length of the survey routes should be much greater. The census is carried out before deep snow falls, and the weak development of subglacial voids during this period makes it possible to better record traces of the animal’s vital activity.

Because otters live in families, tracks of an adult female with several cubs are often found on the shoreline, the tracks of which are noticeably smaller. The concentration of otters in winter near ice-free areas makes it easier to count. A distinctive feature is the presence of often round holes that the animal uses. When the snow is deep enough, a furrow from the otter's belly and tail remains on it. The population density indicator is calculated in relation to the length of the coastline.

Arctic fox accounting

IN autonomous okrugs In the Far North there is a “harvest service” for the Arctic fox, presenting an annual forecast of the animal’s population. The population census required for forecasting is carried out in arctic fox dens, which, as a rule, are quite localized in the tundra zone. The burrows are located on high terrain, in well-drained places, and are relatively compact. In the presence of extensive swampy lowlands, Arctic foxes settle on hills in complex system no. On the contrary, in hilly tundras, dens are characterized by group or single locations.

The accounting and methodological group of the district headquarters of the “harvest service” determines test sites for counting the number of arctic foxes, depending on the qualifications of the census takers and counting locations up to 50 km2 or more. In some areas or throughout the entire area, inhabited burrows are identified, the number of young animals on average per family is determined by observation, and the average family composition for inhabited burrows is calculated. At the beginning of summer (June), the young do not move far from the burrow, so such calculations can be quite accurate. Based on the average family composition and the number of occupied burrows, the approximate number of arctic foxes can be determined.

Since census work is often carried out in the same places where arctic foxes are concentrated during the breeding season, long-term accumulation of data and the experience of surveyors make it possible to reduce the duration of work. In order to predict the number, the state of the food supply of the Arctic fox, primarily mouse-like animals, and other natural factors are studied.

The census of the number of foxes, as well as the arctic fox, is carried out in burrows during the breeding season, in the forest zone - with a salary (extremely rare). However, the most acceptable method is the relative counting of foxes based on tracks on linear routes using the ZMU method.

Muskrat census

Current guidelines for counting muskrat numbers provide for several counting methods. Depending on natural conditions and resources, muskrat surveys can be continuous or selective. Selective surveys are carried out by laying out trial plots of 100 - 200 hectares in size so that they cover at least 10% of muskrat lands. Several typical lakes can be identified as test sites; The registration area can also be a hunter’s fishing area. In extensive fishing areas on large bodies of water, a relative count of muskrat numbers is practiced along the same permanent routes in spring and autumn.

Features of accounting work in field conditions. The experience of practical on-farm game management makes it possible to use certain features during census work of certain species of game animals.

Sable. Other than that equal conditions population density indicators of the species change in different forest types from maximum to minimum in the following sequence: in dark coniferous taiga with an admixture of cedar; in the spruce-fir taiga (grass-shrub, cluttered, over-mature); in herbaceous-shrub larch forests or young forests in old burnt areas and clearings (with small-leaved renewal); in other types of forest; in areas unusual for the species (mountain tundras and meadows, wide pigweeds, swamps, etc.).

In a number of areas, sable is characterized by movements (2-3 year cycle) to the lower reaches of rivers, or, conversely, the animals visit the floodplain only periodically, preferentially staying on the slopes of ridges. Such a situation can significantly distort accounting data; this should be kept in mind. When taking surveys, one cannot limit oneself to examining only floodplain areas.

Squirrel. In fishing conditions, when a hunter travels the same route for 2 days in a row, the data can be processed using the following simplified calculation method (Smirnov, 1961): N = A/A - B (where N is the number of squirrels, A is the hunter’s catch on the first day, B - production on the second day).

Counting squirrels is often complicated due to its high mobility. In the conditions of observed migration, the average daily catch of a hunter becomes an important reference point for determining the number, i.e., the tendency to increase or decrease the number with different conditions, based on the long-term average level.

Column accounting

Preferable surveys in the floodplain, cedar-broad-leaved forests ( Far East), through bushy swamps and mires with lakes. Higher numbers are in the foothills. According to a very rough diagram, the floodplain in the lower reaches major tributaries belongs to the first zone of population density of the species; tributaries of the second and third orders belong to the second density zone. In the middle reaches, first-order tributaries flow to the second density zone, and second- and third-order tributaries flow to the third population density zone. The upper reaches of the rivers with all their tributaries belong to the third zone of population density.

In snowy winters, when there are few mouse-like species, Siberians can concentrate in empty or non-freezing springs. Without preliminary capture, counting is difficult. With the onset of severe frosts (December - January), accounting gives large gaps, since columns long time may not leave the shelter. Its activity increases sharply at the end of February - March.

Ermine census

It is preferable to count with the first snowfall, and only in the floodplains of rivers and streams. In a significant part of its range, the stoat leads a rather secretive lifestyle, rarely appearing on the surface in deep snow.

Mink counting

It is better to carry out accounting in field conditions before freeze-up, since the resulting empty ice increases many times the accounting errors. It is necessary to carefully inspect (until mid-November, until the broods have settled) creases, bank slopes, and the sources of bays. In the habitats of the brood, trails, holes, etc. are visible. Outside the individual habitat of the brood, only traces of adult single individuals are found (traces of puppies are less common).

In March, the mink's activity increases, and the animal emerges more often from the empty ice. The mink is mobile, the length of its daily movement reaches 10-15 km.

Otter census

The daily cycle and individual habitat vary greatly and depend not only on food resources and the protective properties of the land. In places where there are almost no traces of an otter, since it appears in a given place periodically, the animal’s habitat can exceed a water area of ​​50-60 km (long).

Ground squirrels and marmots are counted by their residential burrows on sample sites in May - early June. The size of the site for counting gophers is no more than 20 hectares. Inhabited burrows are counted and the number of animals living within the site is determined visually or by trapping.

Chipmunks are counted on routes in early May (sometimes with a decoy). The minimum number of counted animals per day from which you can plan to harvest is 40-50 individuals.

Muskrat census

A qualitative assessment of the population is possible only taking into account the type of reservoir, its hydrological regime, and food supply. In floodplain reservoirs, the muskrat rarely makes huts, however, each family has 4-5 feeding burrows with a habitat area (in similar conditions) from 30-40 to 200 m. Spring-summer census (late May - early June) in brood burrows is carried out during the period when all movements of the muskrat end, the first litter appears, the number of occupied burrows approximately corresponds to the number of married couples. The spring number plus the average annual increase (the natural loss of young animals is excluded) allows us to speak, as a first approximation, about the procurement plan.

Beaver census

The beaver moves quite widely in the summer; traces of its activity can be found far from its main habitat, which makes it difficult to count. The sizes of a weak, medium and strong family can differ significantly. Coastal survey during survey ( late autumn, before freeze-up, when beavers are already concentrated near settlements) increases the efficiency of these works.

Fox counting

In the practice of counting work during on-farm hunting management, the size of fox counting areas is at least 1.5 thousand hectares. Sites are established in connection with river floodplains, agricultural lands, etc., with differentiation into zones of different species densities (a known maximum of 10-12 individuals per 1000 hectares).

Badger count

Surveys on sites are possible if the abundance of the species is relatively significant. Mapping of colonies and relative recording of residential burrows along the routes are carried out. A fairly long-term recording (up to 10 days) on an area of ​​up to 1000 hectares is advisable. Good results are obtained by using badger-baited dogs. In rocky dens, the density of the species can reach 40 or more animals per 1000 hectares. It must be taken into account that in the summer the animals disperse over a fairly large distance (for a badger) (2-5 km) from the permanent settlement. Each adult animal can have 2-3 temporary burrows.

Registration of the raccoon dog

A general idea of ​​the species’ abundance can be obtained by examining typical habitats: the shores of lakes, swamps, bays, channels with muddy and sandy shores. Accounting is effective when early snow falls on sites (with comprehensive accounting).

Registration of red deer

Take into account during the period (September - October); the route should cover different types of land, from the lower reaches of the river to the upper reaches. Listening points are placed at least 3 listening radii from each other; with an average population density of the species, one point per 8-12 thousand hectares is sufficient. When listening, the approximate distance at which the animal can be heard is determined, the location is marked on a schematic map, then delineated. The number of bulls based on the population structure allows us to determine the total number of the species.

Roe deer count

In the summer, it is possible to examine salt licks, edges of mires, and springs, where traces are clearly visible on spits and muddy banks, and the individual area of ​​a roe deer is limited to several tens of hectares. In a number of places in the taiga zone, visual observation is possible (June - July) before sunset (males) from 18-19 hours and with the first onset of twilight (females), when roe deer go out into the wind open spaces, fleeing from vileness. A frightened male almost always gives a voice.

In winter, with snowfall of 25-35 cm, a significant part of the population wanders. The count of migrating roe deer is carried out across the identified paths (usually the floodplain of the river, pigweed, etc.) along clearings, old roads, winter roads, with registration of the traces encountered on the diagram. When crossing, roe deer walk in a chain. Their beds are distinguished by the ejection of snow almost to the ground.

Musk deer. Accounting at complex sites. Low population density - 2-4 individuals per 1000 hectares, average - 10-12, high - up to 40 individuals per 1000 hectares. The individual habitat of a musk deer ranges from 0.4 to 50 hectares, the daily footprint may not exceed 0.5 km; On the route, special attention should be paid to rocky outcrops and steep slopes with rocks.

In the summer-autumn period, an approximate estimate of the number is possible by examining the trails and “latrines”: 15-20 “latrines” per 1 km of route can approximately correspond to a population density of up to 35-40 musk deer per 1000 hectares. Experienced hunters believe that males “scratch” their hooves in the snow, leaving very characteristic thin stripes. On fresh roosts of males, the smell of musk is sometimes felt.

Registration of wild reindeer

In the forest zone, ground-based area and route surveys are carried out extremely rarely. The area of ​​suitable land for habitation within the range is many times larger than the area occupied by deer during the period of registration in the snow, so the registration area must be at least 15-20 thousand hectares. When crossing, the herd walks in a chain; The number can be determined by the places where the animals go to feed.

Boar accounting

In fishing areas, accounting is difficult, since the herds constantly move depending on the feeding situation, often over long distances. The counting area must be large enough (more than 15 thousand hectares); observations of the location and number of wild boars are mapped on a schematic map, followed by a digital count.

In deep snow, wild boar concentrate in horsetail thickets; in the spruce-fir taiga it lives on sedge, in the floodplain of small springs. The seasonal movements of the animal should be well known to the hunter: they are used during census work.

Waterfowl census

Waterfowl is not important in harvesting, but the hunter must give a general assessment of the number. The places and timing of mass migration of waterfowl are determined by observation. A visual assessment of abundance is carried out during daylight hours with a visual coverage width of up to 1 km. Species are identified according to the following scheme: geese, pintail, mallard, pochard, teal, merganser. The average number of birds in flocks is determined along the way, if possible - daily.

Census of nests in reservoirs is carried out from July 1 to August. The best sites are reservoirs heavily overgrown with a variety of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation. Land of average quality is water bodies that are lightly overgrown or overgrown mainly with sedges, reed grass, and reeds. The worst areas - there is no aquatic vegetation, along the banks the plants are represented mainly by sedges.

Sites are laid out (up to 10% of the reservoir site), the average number of broods per 100 hectares and the average number of ducklings in broods are determined. At the same time, males and single females are visually counted from the boat. When processing the received data, an adjustment is made for poor accounting accuracy. On average, 80-85% of broods are taken into account in low water, and 40-45% in high water.

For rational management of hunting, it is necessary to have information about the number of game animals and their distribution across various types lands. Such data makes it possible to establish optimal standards for the production of animals and birds, to resolve issues of limiting or completely banning the production of certain species, and also to evaluate the conservation and reproduction measures taken on the farm.

All game users who lease hunting lands and exploit the number of game animals are required to keep records of game animals. In assigned lands, surveys can be carried out by game managers and rangers of farms, in reserve lands and state reserves - by district game managers, rangers of reserves; all these persons perform accounting work as part of their official duties. Employees of various hunting organizations and members of the hunting society can take part in the registration.

Accounting for game animals is a complex and very labor-intensive matter, since, unlike other components of biogenocenoses, the animal population is a very dynamic resource and with intensive hunting, animals must be counted annually. Methods for recording game fauna are complex and labor-intensive, which is associated with the hidden way of life of animals, and the diversity of the animal world leads to a variety of methods.

There are relative and absolute accounting methods. With relative counting, only the ratio of the number of animals in different areas or in one area in different years is established. In this case, the assessment of accounting results is made comparatively: more, the same, less. Absolute counting methods make it possible to find out the actual number of animals in the surveyed area.

Relative counts are less labor-intensive and are quite sufficient for fisheries. But in Ukraine, where hunting farms serving amateur hunters predominate, the results of this type of accounting are unsuitable for reasonable planning and rational use natural resources. In such farms, the production of animals is regulated solely by their numbers and an overestimated indicator, for example, during accounting work, will cause “overharvesting,” which will subsequently be associated with significant costs for restoring the number.

Relative records in such farms can only have an auxiliary value.

Tracking traces along the route

The main method of accounting in hunting farms serving amateur hunters is tracking of animals by tracks, carried out in winter.

The most widely used method is to track traces on routes. The technique consists in the fact that the census taker, moving along a route, registers the tracks of animals crossing this route. Having accepted the premise that, under equal seasonal and weather conditions, the number of animals is directly proportional to the number of tracks, it is possible, by comparing the materials of route records, to establish the ratio of numbers by farm area, by year, season, type of land, etc.

Route counting is simple and not labor-intensive, so attempts were made to carry out an absolute count on its basis, that is, to move from the number of tracks to the number of animals and from linear counting to area counting. To do this, route accounting is combined with salary, run or tracking.

One of the widespread methods of hunting, also used in census work, is following the tracks of animals. The method is that the hunter or recorder, having found a fresh trail of the animal, moves along it and reaches the resting place, thereby discovering the animal itself. Census by tracking is carried out on trial plots. Having selected the area and limited it on the plan and in reality, the census taker tracks in turn all the animals whose traces he discovered. Having reached the resting place and scared the animal, the census taker continues to trail it until the animal crosses the border of the trial plot. Having hunted down all the animals, their numbers in the trial plot are determined.

The tracking method is used to count elk and deer, brown hare, fox and other species. With a thorough examination of the trial plot, a count can only be missed due to animals that did not rise from their resting place on the day of the count and were not spooked by the counting officer. Such cases are possible only during the first days of powder in warm weather.

With no accounting work, it is impossible to track all the animals living on the farm in one day; therefore, with the tracking method, extrapolation is required. Due to the fact that the census is carried out on sample plots, it is necessary to select them in such a way that the ratio of land types on the samples corresponds to that on the farm. However, even if this condition is met, the final accounting results may have significant deviations precisely due to extrapolation. Therefore, most often surveys on trial plots are carried out in combination with other methods.

The salary method has long been used to hunt and record large animals (ungulates and predators). The method is that, having walked around a certain area and counted all the tracks, separately the entrance and exit ones, the accountant or huntsman, based on the difference in the number of entrance and exit tracks, establishes the presence and number of animals in the area covered. However, in addition to its apparent simplicity, the method has disadvantages that lead to the fact that salary in its simple, pure form is rarely used for accounting purposes. The salary principle itself allows us to evaluate the objective data obtained differently. First of all, such an opportunity arises with equal even number entrance and exit traces, when it is unknown whether animals entered the circle and then left, or vice versa, that is, it is practically unclear whether there are animals in the circle or not. But even the clear predominance of entrance tracks often does not allow us to judge the number of animals, since some of them could first leave and then enter.

In addition, a significant error in the marking occurs due to animals that are in the circle, but do not make a mark on the marking line. This is especially often observed in the second half of winter, when the movements of animals are limited by deep snow. All this forces us to abandon the pure salary and modernize the method in order to eliminate or reduce omissions. It was proposed that when paying a salary, one should go into a circle and track the animals, i.e., abandon the principle of salary and keep records by tracking. It was also proposed to enter not all salaries, but some part of them, thereby determining the skip rate, in other words, combining salary and tracking.

The experience of the state reserve and hunting estate "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" in the use of repeated wages deserves the greatest attention. With this method, salary accounting is maintained for 2 to 3 days in a row. Based on the data from the first day, the second is adjusted; based on the data from the second day, the first is adjusted. This made it possible to sharply reduce the percentage of missing people, since in the conditions of the Pushcha, deer and wild boar rarely stay for 2 - 3 days in one quarter without leaving a trace. When counting moose, this provision is only valid for the first half of winter, since at the end of winter, moose often stand on areas of several hectares for many days and can easily be missed during the accounting.

The need to extrapolate salary accounting data depends on the category of hunting management. In category I farms, salary accounting is carried out, as a rule, throughout the entire territory and extrapolation is usually not required. At low levels of work, when the salary covers some part of the territory, the need arises for extrapolation with all the ensuing difficulties, since it is necessary to extrapolate not from routes, but from trial areas. In these cases, it is more advisable to use one of the combined accounting methods, which always gives more reliable results than direct extrapolation.

One of the types of tracking on trial plots is the continuous run method. The method is that they walk around some part of the land (most often a block) and erase all traces of the animals. Then a noise run is carried out on this area, after which the number of animals in the drive area is determined based on the number of fresh tracks. The continuous run method is considered one of the best methods of counting on trial plots, since with a sufficient number of beaters, almost all animals can be raised, thereby minimizing skip percentage. The main disadvantage of the method is its high labor intensity, which prevents its widespread use. Due to the high labor intensity, a continuous run is used most often when taking into account species that are difficult to account for with a frame or tracking.

With a continuous run, as with other methods of recording on trial plots, there is a need for extrapolation, which is associated with the same difficulties as with other methods. This circumstance leads to the fact that more and more often a continuous run, like other surveys on trial plots, is used in certain combinations with linear route survey methods.

Visual accounting

This method consists in the fact that the census taker, moving along the route, registers all the animals noticed. The area of ​​the route tape can be easily determined if its length is equal to the length of the tracker’s stroke, and its width is equal to twice the maximum distance to the takeoff point of the bird or to the startled animal. To reduce the percentage of animals missed during the route, the accounting data is corrected by re-traversing the route with the dog. Comparison of counting data carried out with and without a dog will give the percentage of misses during route counting.

Currently, with this method of recording animals, a wide range of