Abstract
Simple SummaryThe aim of the study was to determine the nature and causes of direct contact between a wolf and domestic dog during different forms of human recreation. The results are crucial for reducing human–nature conflicts and for education. Thanks to this study, we conclude that humans are responsible for reducing the risk of direct contact between these two canine species. The risk of interaction between wolves and a dog that is with a human depends on the distance between the dog and its owner, the number of wolves, and the size of the dog. Hunting with a dog poses a seven times greater risk of interaction with wolves compared to recreational walking.As a result of species protection in Poland, wolves now appear in places that are attractive for human recreation, increasing their exposure to dogs. This creates a risk of spontaneous direct interactions between these two canine species. Aggressive interactions between the gray wolf and the domestic dog lead to human–large predator conflicts. This study examined wolf–dog interactions using data collected in an online questionnaire and included questions related to factors that might influence the likelihood of interactions between these canines. One of the most important factors affecting the likelihood of interaction between a dog and a wolf was the distance between the dog and the human. The number of wolves was also important—the more wolves, the more likely they were to interact with dogs. The risk of interaction also significantly increases with decreasing distance to human settlements. There were also statistical differences in terms of the type of outdoor activity being engaged in. Hunting was seven times more likely to result in a wolf–dog interaction than normal walk. We postulate that the choices made by the human (dog control and type of recreation) caring for the dog are an important factor that can reduce the risk of direct contact between dogs and wolves.
Highlights
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was previously extirpated from most of Central Europe but has recently recolonized a large part of its historical range [1]
In Poland, the wolf population was severely reduced in the second half of 20th century, when less than a hundred individuals remained, mostly located along the eastern edges of the country [2]
The power of individual variables in the GLM model to explain the occurrence of direct contact during wolf–dog encounters is shown in Tables 1 and 2
Summary
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) was previously extirpated from most of Central Europe but has recently recolonized a large part of its historical range [1]. After strict protection across Poland was implemented in 1998, wolves started recolonizing suitable habitats, including vast forest tracts west of the Vistula River [3,4], as well as military training areas [2,5]. The newly formed Central European wolf population is rapidly expanding westward from its core areas in western Poland and eastern Germany [7], recently reaching Denmark [8], western Germany [9], and Benelux [10,11].
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