Speed and actual distances travelled by radiocollared wolves in BialowiezaPrimeval Forest (Poland)

The relationship between the straight line distances (SLD), obtained from t elemetry locations, and actual distances travelled by wolves Canis lupus (A DT), measured by snowtracking, was investigated in Bialowieza Primeval Fore st, E Poland, in winter 1995/96. Radiolocations determined at 15-min time i ntervals approximated the ADT by wolves reasonably well. If wolves were rel ocated at 0.5- to 2-h intervals, SLD can be multiplied by a correction fact or of 1.3 to obtain ADT. Within the range of SLD from 1 to 10 km, they coul d also be converted into ADT using a regression equation: ADT = 0.34 + 1.19 (SLD), with standard errors of prediction +/- 0.13 to +/- 0.3 km. The avera ge travelling speed of wolves was 3.78 km/h (SD 1.23, range 1.6-6.1 km). Wo lves walking the forest trails, roads and frozen rivers moved significantly faster than in the forest. Also, individuals travelling with other pack me mbers moved faster than those walking singly.