Wolf spotting

[lisa]

Mike's going on a wolf hunt, hoping it will be a lovely day, he's not scared.
O.K. That was for the parents among us. Actually he really is and though he has a good idea of where to look (in the region of the Valle de Lechada in the Cordillera), I just thought someone could give him some pointers as a first-time wolf-spotting guide? (I'll show him Nick's wolf scat.)

[Technopat]

Greetings Lisa,
Maybe I'm just that wee bit over-sensitive, but could we perhaps use a less unfortunate expression than "hunt" in the context of wolves. Like as you say, go wolf-spotting, as in bird/train, etc., and other pleasant day's outings.
I'm sure you meant it tongue-in-cheek, but ...

Catch up with you on the hunting board.
Regs.
Technopat

[lisa]

Sorry that offended you Technopat, you've obviously never read "We're Going on a Bear Hunt."
Must relate that an affronted husband just reminded me of the year he sent me a birthday card with wolf pooh taped to it.
Whoops. 

[lisa]

Here are some of the words;
http://www.polkatheatre.com/whatson.asp?theatreID=2

[nick]

My nieces are mad about "going on a bear hunt". How old are you Mike? Is this your first wolf hunt?

Anyway, clues for a wolf track, Mike big dogs and wolves leave similar tracks but:

Prints

1  Wolves leave big pawprints
2. Wolves almost always leave claw marks - not all dogs do this because they wear down their claws on tarmac.
3. On their own - no human tracks next to them
4 Somewhere wild where you know there are wolves

There's a picture below (do you know what the other print is?)

Second thing to look for is poo which we call scat:

1. It's big
2. It's got bits or fur and bone in it - dogs normally eat biscuits
3. It doesn't smell as bad as dog doo

[lisa]

Thanks Nick, we must have posted at the same time.
We reckon small (roe?) deer.

[nick]

Sorry,

Red deer - think its' a male

Wolf tracks are big

[nick]

Actually not sure might be a female - but it's not a roe deer

[lisa]

Now we know how big they are, tracks that is.

[nick]

Yes, and you've hit another important thing for Mike - which I forgot when I took the photo - which is always put something next to it so you can see the scale (keys, etc)

-Wild boar to right.

[lisa]

Any chance of changing this topic to "Wolf spotting"? 
Anyway, I've found some positive publicity for eco-tourism in the Sierra de la Culebra from La Opinión de Zamora. They note how the growth of nature-based tourism, particularly Iberian wolf spotting, is beneficial for the local economy 
"El turismo de naturaleza está de moda. Junto a los exóticos safaris africanos y no menos singulares destinos asiáticos o americanos, abundantes en majestuosos paisajes y monumentos naturales, aparecen ofertas que no por más modestas resultan menos interesantes. La Península Ibérica, con su abanico de estampas y la diversidad de ecosistemas, seduce a los amantes de la naturaleza hasta el extremo de ser España uno de los destinos más requeridos.
Y Zamora no es ajena a esta corriente. Cada año numerosos grupos de turistas nacionales y extranjeros eligen la provincia atraídos por dos iconos de la fauna ibérica: la avutarda y el lobo."

[nick]

Topic name changed

[lisa]

For those who are interested, there's a programme on tonight (Wednesday 28th) about Carlos Sanz and wolves;
Digital +, en el canal Caza y Pesca (canal 66), un reportaje sobre mi trabajo con los lobos que grabaron hace algunas semanas.
El programa se llama "Al acecho", y se emite entre las 19,00 y las 20,00 horas, estando previsto que el reportaje de los lobos vaya en la segunda mitad de la emisión.