Elk watching and wolf tracking

The Elk (or Moose, as it is known by its Canadian counterpart) is the the biggest animal in the forests of northern Europe. About 12 000 live in Estonia. The weight of this majestic animal can reach 600 kg.

Wolves have always been a part of Estonian nature, and Estonians have a long tradition of sharing their with these lithe and beautiful creatures. In recent decades the Estonian wolf population has been thriving, with a population of about 200 adults. Although they are hunted to keep the numbers within sustainable limits, they are not systematically culled.

We start out by touring the forest habitats frequented by numbers of Elk, observing young trees they’ve browsed. We’ll find signs of their presence at salt licks, and search for footprints and droppings. But we’ll also keep our eyes open for any other wildlife – golden eagle, black grouse, wolf tracks.

We’ll drive to a forested area where a wolf pack has a hunting territory. We’ll make stops to search for footprints and droppings, take a look at the wolf habitats and talk about this awesome

When the darkness falls, we’ll listen for wolves, then attract them with our howling. With good luck we’ll be able to make contact with the animals; with very good luck they might come close to investigate. With time and patience we may be treated to a memorable life time experience: spotting a wolf and/or hearing their howls in a dark forest.

In the early morning next day we´ll drive to Matsalu National Park for an overview of the open flood-plain from one of the park’s towers. Elk are numerous here and a sighting is a sure thing on Matsalu’s vast terrain. Just some of the other animals and birds to be spotted: Roe Deer, Wild Boars, Foxes.

When: 26-27 september. Night in Altmõisa in double rooms http://www.altmoisa.ee

What to wear: Warm clothes and comfortable (and prefebly waterproof) footwear are necessary. At night be quite chilly.

What´s included: