Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the actual influence of predators on the populations of small game animals in the hunting areas of the Warmia and Mazury region. The experiment was carried out in the area of the Game Breeding Centre in Załuski, belonging to the District Board of the Polish Hunting Association in Olsztyn, situated in the Warmia and Mazury Province in the Forest Division of Nidzica. It consists of two field hunting grounds covering a total area of 9,638 ha. Artificial nests were established in 11 diverse study sites located in the areas representative of the hunting grounds. Three trials were performed. While checking the nests placed in experiment I (after day 21), all nests (143) were found destroyed. In experiment III, during the check after seven days from the date the eggs were placed in the nests, all nests were found completely destroyed. The results of the study indicated a strong potential predatory pressure on the populations of small game animals.