or Daniel(Dama dama)
Class - mammals
Order - artiodactyls
Suborder - ruminants
Family - deer
Subfamily - true deer
Rod - doe
Appearance
The fallow deer is significantly larger than the roe deer, but smaller and lighter than the red deer. The European subspecies reaches a length of 130 to 175 cm, has a tail 20 cm long and a height at the withers of 80 to 105 cm. Its weight varies from 65-110 kg in males to 45-70 kg in females. Males of the slightly larger Iranian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) reach lengths of over 2 m. The fallow deer has a more muscular body and shorter neck and limbs than the red deer. The antlers, unlike those of the Mesopotamian fallow deer, can take on a spatulate shape.
The color of the fallow deer changes depending on the time of year. In summer, it is reddish-brown with white spots on the upper side and tip of the tail. The underside and legs are paler. In winter, the head, neck and ears are dark brown, the back and sides are almost black, the underside is ash-gray. Completely black or white fallow deer are also not uncommon.
Habitat
The fallow deer's natural range covers European countries, adjacent to Mediterranean Sea, northwestern Africa, Egypt, Asia Minor, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq.
Fallow deer prefer to live in forests with numerous lawns and open places, but can adapt well to different areas habitat and is even found on the island of Norderney in the North Sea.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of the European fallow deer resembles that of the red deer, but it is somewhat more unpretentious and sticks mainly to pine groves and park-like landscapes. She is less timid and cautious, but is not inferior to the red deer in speed and agility. The fallow deer is a ruminant and exclusively herbivore. Their food consists of grass and tree leaves. Sometimes they tear off tree bark, but do not cause as much damage to the forest as red deer.
Strong males establish themselves in the habitat by digging shallow holes in the ground for lying down, from which they trumpet even in a lying position. Females move in small groups and search for areas of the strongest deer. However, unlike the red deer, the male does not herd them and does not prevent them from leaving their range.
The size of fallow deer groups varies depending on the region and area, but in in some cases can reach 80 individuals.
Reproduction
The mating period begins in September and lasts until mid-November. At this time, males trumpet loudly, calling females and emphasizing the rights to their habitat.
From mid-June to the end of July, after a 32-week pregnancy, females separate from the group and give birth to cubs, most often one, occasionally two. Milk feeding lasts about 4 months. Young animals reach sexual maturity at the age of two to three years. In general, their life expectancy reaches 30 years. Newborn cubs sometimes become victims of foxes, boars and ravens.
Captive
All year round, fallow deer are kept in open enclosures with canopy houses - in winter time they easily tolerate any frost. The height of the fence of the enclosure must be at least 2.5 meters, the lattice of the fence must be such that the animals do not stick their heads into the holes between the bars, and when breeding, the cubs do not run away from the enclosure. Houses for fallow deer are made of wood and have a small area. The animal can hide there from wind, rain or snow, while in the houses they set up nurseries for hay or grass of appropriate height, install water containers and a feeder for succulent and concentrated feed.
To ensure greater efficiency, fallow deer should initially be bred in fenced enclosures with an area of up to 50 hectares (enclosures larger area make it much more difficult technical control for their condition). In the forest belt the most suitable places for setting up an enclosure - small forest areas and their edges, open forests with good shrub growth, clearings. Such biotopes are the richest in natural food and shelter. For fencing the enclosure, the most suitable metal galvanized woven mesh, attached to asbestos-cement pipes dug into the ground or reinforced concrete pillars (if these are not available, wooden posts can also be used, but they will not be durable).
When kept in captivity, the diet of fallow deer consists of 60% twig food or bark and 40% hay or grass. As mineral feed The fallow deer are given table salt, chalk and bone meal daily. The average daily amount of minerals for fallow deer should be: 20g. salt and 20g. chalk (or bone meal). In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the fallow deer receives the required amount of vitamins. The most important are three types of vitamins: A, D3, E. Their sources can be vegetables, grain feed, as well as special vitamin complexes.
Let's start the description of the animal fallow deer with encyclopedic data. The fallow deer (Dama dama Linnaeus) is a beautiful deer belonging to the genus of true, or red, deer. This is a relatively small animal. The weight of males does not exceed 100 kilograms with a body length of 130-140 centimeters and a height at the withers of less than one meter.
Fallow deer can often be seen in parks and gardens in many European countries. Where they are not hunted, fallow deer become very trusting of humans. But in the wild and hunting grounds, fallow deer are no less careful animals than any other representatives of this family. Currently, there are two types of fallow deer: European (Dama dama) and Iranian (Dama mesopotamica), living in Asia Minor. Description of the animal Iranian fallow deer: it is larger and lighter in color than the European fallow deer. It is also called the Persian or Mesopotamian fallow deer.
These animals lead a herd lifestyle; their groups can reach up to hundreds of individuals at a time. As with other deer species, such large groups consist mainly of females and young animals. Males, on the other hand, stay separately for most of the year in the company of animals of the same age or alone. In the wild, these graceful ungulates have a red-fawn coat with numerous white spots on the sides, arranged in longitudinal rows that almost merge into lines. And the underbelly and inner sides of the legs are white. However, due to the fact that these deer have been bred under human control for centuries, completely unusual color forms have appeared - from dark chocolate to almost black. White or fawn-cream deer also look interesting. The fiery red doe is no less beautiful.
The main decoration of the males of these mammals are their magnificent antlers, which are completely different in shape from other types of deer. The apex of each horn is expanded into flattened “lobes” with numerous processes. Below the “blade” there are 2 or 3 more branches of the horn. With age they become more and more perfect. Therefore, the tournament weapons of male fallow deer are unique and rightfully occupy a special place in the gallery of hunting trophies.
Range of fallow deer.
The historical homeland of the fallow deer is the region of Mesopotamia - in the area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. On the spot desert landscapes modern Iraq in ancient times had a different climate, then the lands of Mesopotamia were covered with subtropical forests. Today, from the surviving remnants of forests in the foothills and mountainous regions of Southern Iran and Northern Iraq, one can judge the characteristic habitats of the Persian fallow deer. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the first fallow deer were exported from Mesopotamia, whose descendants later found a new homeland in the Mediterranean lands. But it was not only Great Rome that contributed to the appearance of fallow deer in new lands. There is documented evidence that the pharaohs Ancient Egypt made successful experiments on the resettlement of this deer on the northern coast of Africa.
In the 20th century, fallow deer became a common species of game animal in many countries. The northern countries of Europe were no exception: Norway, Sweden and Russia. There are especially many fallow deer in the UK. Also, these graceful deer successfully reproduce in North America, especially in areas of the southeastern United States. The fallow deer has taken root in South America- in Chile and Argentina. They also thrive in the forests of New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. Thanks to artificial resettlement, the fallow deer has occupied a wide distribution area. This species lives in 36 countries on five continents. At the same time, animals demonstrate good adaptation to existence in different conditions- from tropics to moderately cold climates. Perhaps the only factor limiting its migration to the north is the depth of the snow cover. This is associated with failures of acclimatization in a number of places, for example, in the northern regions of Russia and the countries of Scandinavia.
In suitable areas, the favorite habitats of fallow deer are mainly lowland and foothill deciduous forests, interspersed with clearings. Small forest areas are sufficient for them. The disadvantage of keeping a fallow deer is that even in the mild Western European climate it must be fed and protected from predators. Constant guardianship of a person allows you to keep high density this species is found almost everywhere.
Life activity of a fallow deer.
Talking about the description of the fallow deer, we will continue with the lifestyle of this animal. The fallow deer, due to its southern origin, has a somewhat later start to breeding compared to other European, Asian and American species deer. Hunting for the “roar” begins almost a month later than for other species of red deer. At the same time, nature made sure that the fallow deer's cubs (the female gives birth to one or two) become independent as quickly as possible.
The main peak of tournament fights between males occurs in the middle - end of October and lasts about a month. It involves males 4-5 years old and older. Males, like females, reach sexual maturity at two years of age. Tournament fights of male fallow deer are not cruel and noisy, but this does not make them any less interesting. They are also characterized by uncompromising combat. With all this, the fallow deer does not harm the enemy with its horns. Dangerous interlocking of horns in fallow deer bulls occurs extremely rarely, and if it does happen, it is due to the ugliness of the antlers of one of the males.
During the rut, males are constantly excited and active, which brings the excitement inherent in real hunting and the opportunity to choose a worthy trophy. A characteristic feature of male fallow deer is a special manner of “roaring”. Bulls emit a kind of roar or bark, while stretching their necks and jerking their heads sharply from bottom to top. The lifespan of fallow deer is about 20 - 25 years. In captivity, a documented life expectancy of 33 years.
As a hunting trophy, the fallow deer is common among Western European hunters. Breeding work has been carried out in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for a long time. These countries are rightfully proud of their trophy fallow deer. In these countries there are also hunting farms specializing in fallow deer color forms.
Describing the animal fallow deer, let's talk about its domestic prospects. In Russia, conditions were not the most suitable for fallow deer: harsh climate and deep snow. However, in the southern regions this ungulate could become a background species, like the roe deer. Natural conditions southern forests in many places they are simply created for this species, including in the steppe zone with artificial plantings of trees. Southern regions Russia could acquire the status of an attractive habitat for fallow deer.
Dama dama
European Fallow Deer (English), Damhirsch, Damwild (German), Daim Platycerque (French), Gamo (Spanish).
In some European countries this animal is called "Daniel". In Bulgaria - "lopotar". A certain part of zoological scientists consider the Iranian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) and the European fallow deer are subspecies of the same species. Previously, the fallow deer was classified as a genus Cervus.
DESCRIPTION. The fallow deer is significantly larger than the roe deer, but smaller and lighter than the red deer. Height at the withers is up to 110 cm, body weight is rarely more than 100-120 kg, body length up to 170 cm. Males are larger than females. The fallow deer has a more muscular body and shorter neck and limbs than the red deer. This is the animal with the greatest variety of colors of all deer. Four main ones:
1) typical - summer hair of a rich brown color with white spots and lighter hair bottom torso; this color is replaced in winter by dark gray-brown with barely visible spots;
2) menil – pale yellowish-brown with white spots;
3) white (but not albino);
4) black - actually, not black, but very dark brown. There are many intermediate color variations.
The horns have an ocular and middle process (“ice” - usually absent) and a well-developed “shovel” at the apex with a number of processes extending from the dorsal edge.
BEHAVIOR. Social behavior varies: in some places the fallow deer is a herd animal, forming herds of up to 30 animals, and in other places it is more or less solitary. Herds are usually led by females, although this does not appear to constitute dominance. Leads a diurnal lifestyle, with maximum activity occurring at the beginning and end of the day. Mainly feeds on grass, but also eats leaves and branches of trees and shrubs.
The mating period begins in October and lasts until mid-November. At this time, males make growling sounds reminiscent of barking and grunt, calling for females and emphasizing rights to their habitat. They are actively fighting among themselves. Strong males establish themselves in the habitat by digging shallow holes in the ground for lying down, from which they “roar” even in a lying position. Females move in small groups and look for the strongest deer. However, unlike the red deer, the male does not herd them and does not prevent them from leaving their range. From mid-June to the end of July, after a 32-week pregnancy, females separate from the group and give birth to cubs, most often one, occasionally two. Newborn cubs sometimes become victims of foxes, boars and ravens. Milk feeding lasts about 4 months. Young animals reach sexual maturity at the age of two to two and a half years. In general, the life expectancy of a fallow deer reaches 25 years. Vision, hearing and smell are good. When alarmed, it emits a short “bark” and runs away, jumping on straight legs, which serves as another warning of danger. Not as wary or shy as most other deer; can be easily partially domesticated if fed and not hunted. It is very hardy, capable of living in a wide variety of habitats, but it requires the presence of at least some kind of forest.
HABITAT. It prefers to live in forests with numerous lawns and open spaces, but is able to adapt well to a variety of habitats.
SPREADING. Most of Europe. The modern fallow deer is believed to originate from the Mediterranean Southern Europe, from the island of Rhodes and from Anatolia (Asian part of Turkey). Türkiye is the only country in Asia where the European fallow deer lives in the wild. It was widely introduced throughout the world and is now found in 38 countries on six continents.
In Russia, it is acclimatized (introduced) in some hunting grounds of the European part.
European fallow deer (introduced) (Dama dama)– Rostov region, individual hunting grounds in other regions of European territory. (
Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Mammals
Squad: Artiodactyls
Suborder: Ruminants
Family: Deer
Subfamily: Real deer
Genus: Lani
View: Doe
A little bit of history about the fallow deer
In ancient times, the desert landscapes of Iraq had a completely different climate. Then there were subtropical forests here. Based on the remains preserved today (regions of the mountains of Northern Iraq and Southern Iran), one can judge the habitats of the Persian fallow deer. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the first fallow deer were taken from Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean, the subsequent descendants of which found a new homeland in these lands. It is known that not only Rome contributed to the appearance of this animal on new lands. There is documentary evidence that the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt carried out successful activities to resettle this beautiful deer on the northern coasts of Africa. Since the twentieth century, the fallow deer has already represented normal look animals in many countries of the world.
Habitat
The natural range of the fallow deer covers European countries adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, northwestern Africa, Egypt, Asia Minor, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
It is generally accepted that the fallow deer was brought to Central Europe from the south, but judging by the fact that already in the Pleistocene a form of the fallow deer lived in this area, indistinguishable from the modern one, it can be argued that its range was previously much wider. Images of deer heads made of bronze stored in the Hermitage were discovered in the Semibratny Scythian burial mounds Taman Peninsula, as well as in the mounds of southern Ukraine. All this gives reason to assume that in the Holocene the range of both types of fallow deer, European and Mesopotamian, also covered the areas of the Black Sea region and the southern Russian plains.
In the XIII-XVI centuries. fallow deer were found in Poland and Lithuania; V early XVIII V. they lived in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. In most of the named geographic areas, this deer was almost completely exterminated. In the wild state, the fallow deer is preserved only on the southwestern coast of the Sea of Marmara, in Spain, along south coast Asia Minor and in small numbers in northwestern Africa.
Appearance
Medium sized deer. The height at the withers in adult males ranges from 85 to 100 cm. Body length is about 140 cm. Skull length is 254–290 cm. Live weight rarely exceeds 100 kg, usually less. Females are somewhat smaller than males.1 The height at the rump is several centimeters higher than the height at the withers.
The profile of the back is straight, rising posteriorly or slightly convex. The head is relatively wide in the postorbital part, and has a strongly narrowed snout. The ears are relatively long; being bent forward, they reach the preorbital fossae; their tops are pointed. The nasal planum is small, occupying only the middle part of the upper lip; its upper border barely extends above the level of the lower edges of the nostrils and only on the sides stretches along the inner and outer edges of the latter. The preorbital glands are small. The iris of the eyes is brown.
The horns of males are round or longitudinally oval at the base and in the middle part. One supraorbital and one middle process extend forward from the main trunk, curved with their apices upward.
The general background of the winter coloring of the upper body, neck and head is typically dark brown with a yellowish or reddish tint. Darkest colored top part back and sacrum, often black-brown in color. On the sides and bottom the color gradually becomes lighter and acquires a clear gray tint. The neck, sides and bottom of the head also have a gray tint, while the upper part of the latter (forehead and nose) is colored the same as the top of the body - brownish-brown.
There is a light ring around the eyes. Inner side the ears are grayish-white, the outer ones are brownish-brown. The end of the muzzle along the edges of the mouth is whitish. Lower torso and inner legs white, sometimes with a reddish or grayish tint. The limbs below the carpal and hock joints are light, reddish in front, almost white in the back and sides. The tail is white, but there is a black-brown stripe along its midline.
The peri-caudal mirror is small, almost does not extend to the sides of the thighs and does not rise above the base of the tail, on top and sides it is bordered by a narrow strip of black-brown color, merging with the dark color of the top of the sacrum. Light round or oval small spots, barely noticeable in the winter coat, are scattered along the upper part, along the sides of the body and on the croup.
Common types of fallow deer
A subspecies of fallow deer, which is common in Western Asia, is the Iranian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica). It is larger in size than the European fallow deer; its antlers are also larger, but not as branched as those of its relative.
Now this subspecies has almost disappeared from the face of our planet, found only in a small area in the south of Iran (Khuzestan), in two reserves in Mazandaran (northern Iran), in northern Israel and Iraq. But the original distribution area of the subspecies began in Mesopotamia and Cyrenaica and continued to Egypt and Cyprus. Iranian fallow deer live in open wooded areas. Today people breed these animals in zoos and parks in Iran, Israel and Germany. Individuals bred in captivity are then released into conditions wildlife, thanks to which the population is gradually recovering.
Lifestyle
The European fallow deer is close to the red deer, but is more unpretentious, therefore it mainly sticks to spacious pine groves and safe park landscapes. However, fallow deer are less timid and cautious, and in terms of speed and agility, representatives of the fallow deer genus are not inferior to red deer. IN summer days European fallow deer prefer to stay apart or in small groups. At the same time, the young of the year are close to their mother. The period of main activity occurs in the cool morning and evening hours, when animals graze or come to water.
Battles for a female during deer tournaments can be so fierce that deer quite often break each other’s and even their own necks, so both rivals may well die.
During hot daytime hours, fallow deer rest on special beds in the shade of bushes or directly near various bodies of water, where there are no annoying numerous midges. Living in park areas individuals quite easily become practically tame, so they are even able to take food from human hands. In late autumn, such animals gather in fairly large herds, consisting of females and males. At the same time, deer tournaments and weddings take place.
The fallow deer is a contemporary of the most ancient giant-horned fossil deer, which lived during the middle and late Pleistocene. As observations show, the life expectancy of the European fallow deer in natural conditions is on average: for males - about ten years, and for females - no more than fifteen years. In captivity, a noble animal can easily live for a quarter of a century or even a little more.
What does a doe eat?
The European fallow deer is an exclusively herbivorous animal. Therefore, the fallow deer feeds mainly on grass and tree leaves. Depending on the time of year, fallow deer feed on a variety of available plants.
In spring, fallow deer feed on snowdrops, fresh shoots of rowan, willow, aspen, maple, oak, pine and various shrubs. In summer, the European fallow deer eats mushrooms, berries, cereals and legumes. It also feeds on acorns and chestnuts.
And in winter, fallow deer mainly feed on the bark and branches of trees, which sometimes harm forests. also in winter period Fallow deer easily find edible roots and mosses under the snow, thanks to their developed sense of smell. The upper lip of this deer has such a structure that allows the fallow deer to gnaw on low-growing basal leaves where other ungulates are unable to reach them.
Reproduction of European fallow deer
The rutting period for fallow deer lasts two and a half months. It starts in September and ends by mid-November.
Behavior of males at the onset mating season changes dramatically. Males become excited, emit a trumpet roar, declaring their right to territory and females, and merge with herds of females. One male fertilizes, as a rule, from 5 to 10 females during one mating season.
The female carries the baby for 32 weeks. From the end of May to the beginning of July, females, having separated from their group, give birth to cubs. In one litter, as a rule, there is one cub. Less often there are two of them. Moreover, the number of males and females among newborns is approximately the same. The lactation period (milk feeding) of fallow deer lasts approximately 4 months. The calf reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 – 3 years. The lifespan of the European fallow deer is on average 30 years.
Natural enemies of the fallow deer
Newborn fallow deer cubs are attacked by foxes, wild boars and crows. Adult individuals are hunted by a variety of predators that are found in certain specific areas where the herd lives. The European fallow deer population is stable. The Iranian fallow deer subspecies is currently under threat of extinction and people are working to restore the number of the animal.
Doe hunting methods
Fallow deer represent the object of sport hunting, which is carried out strictly under licenses and for animals that have reached 6-8 years of age or older, selective shooting of animals is also carried out. Hunting methods: from the approach, on a wab (on a roar), from a tower, wounded animals are taken with hounds. Hunting is carried out only when the permissible number of animals per certain territory. The normal number is 6 to 10 fallow deer per hectare.
- Since ancient times, fallow deer has been a favorite hunting object for humans. In addition, this animal is a symbol of grace, speed and grace. Ancient Greek mythology describes the Kerynean Hind as a magical and sacred creature that belonged to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
- In Poland, fallow deer are bred on special agricultural farms to obtain their meat and skins. At the beginning of the 21st century, the fallow deer was included in the list of the most common farm animal species in this state.
- The fallow deer is often kept in parks as an ornamental animal, and in hunting farms the fallow deer is an object of sport hunting.
- Adult males shed their antlers in April; by August new antlers reach full development, and in the middle of the month the males rub against tree trunks, clearing their skin. The horns reach their greatest development in males at 5-7 years of age.
Video
Sources
- https://o-prirode.ru/lanj/ http://cytoplazma.ru/lani.html
This extremely beautiful small deer was brought from Mediterranean countries to the Askania-Nova reserve at the end of the century before last. In the 40-60s of the 20th century, European fallow deer were brought to the hunting grounds of a number of regions of Ukraine in order to increase the fauna of ungulates and rationally use them in the future as hunting and commercial animals. Unlike other types of deer, fallow deer are not very slender, have a strong body, relatively short and strong legs (the front ones are slightly shorter than the hind ones). The head is small, the neck is short, the ears are large, pointed, and the tail is long. Characteristic sign fallow deer - a peculiar structure of horns in males, at the tops of which there is a small vertical spade-shaped extension with finger-like processes along the rear edge. Female fallow deer, like other deer of the Ukrainian fauna, are antlerless. The body length of large males reaches 160 cm, weight is about 90 kg, females weigh less. Colors hairline The fallow deer is spotted: in summer it is reddish-brown with a noticeably darker stripe along the back and expressive white spots throughout the body, the abdominal part is white. In winter, the overall color tone is gray, with barely noticeable spotting. Around the tail and on rear parts the hips are small, surrounded on the sides by dark stripes, a white “mirror”. Occasionally, but more often than other species of deer, albinos with pure white hair are found among fallow deer.
Fallow deer are now widespread in Ukraine in almost all forest-steppe regions. They live in mixed forests with open grassy edges and forest areas rich in undergrowth and young growth, including pine trees. Their favorite habitats are young trees and bushes near dry meadows. These animals differ from all other types of deer in their inability to cope with deep snow. During snowy winters, fallow deer stay close to feeding areas. Fallow deer are most active in the morning and evening hours, although sometimes they can be found during the day in open areas of the forest. In summer they regularly visit watering holes. When they graze, especially in summer, they rest from time to time.
Fallow deer are herd animals. In the summer, females usually stay in family groups, and old males walk alone or in herds of several heads and only in the fall (in August) they join the females, forming small herds of 8-10 individuals. In April, old males shed their antlers; newly formed antlers are cleared of their skin in August.
Fallow deer feed on a variety of herbaceous vegetation, leaves and young green shoots of deciduous trees and shrubs, fallen acorns, chestnuts, berries, mushrooms, etc. In winter, fallow deer willingly gnaw the bark, bite off young shoots of willow, aspen, hornbeam, rowan, maple and others tree species. The tops of young pine trees are bitten off. The structure of the upper lip makes it possible for the fallow deer to gnaw off young basal shoots of burnt-out herbaceous vegetation, and in winter, green basal leaves as low as other ungulates are not capable of.
At the end of September - at the beginning of October, the breeding season of fallow deer begins. During this period, males of 4-5 years of age drive away young males from family herds and form so-called harems with females of 2-3 years of age. During this period, males that begin to breed are very excited, in the evenings and at dawn they often make fragmentary guttural sounds and enter into tournament fights with rivals. Before giving birth to babies, females separate from their herd. In May, more often in June, after almost 8 months of pregnancy, they give birth to one, rarely two calves. A newborn calf quickly follows its mother within a week, and at one month of age begins to eat tender meat. green grass, even though she continues to feed on her mother’s milk for almost six months. For the first ten days, females graze near the calf, hidden in a thicket of grass among the bushes, after which they join the herd with it.
Growing calves stick with their mother until her next calving.
Fallow deer is a promising animal of the Ukrainian fauna. This is not only a wonderful decoration of our forests and parks, but over time, when their number increases, it will become a valuable hunting and commercial animal. It produces tender, tasty meat, high-quality soft skin and beautiful horn decorations. The enemies of fallow deer are wolves, which pursue them, especially in winter, and can greatly reduce the number of animals. Foxes also prey on newborn calves. But it’s not only predators that are dangerous to fallow deer. This type of deer is not adapted to move and search for food in deep snow cover, therefore in frosty, snowy winters their number can decrease significantly.
