WTE - Wildtiererfassung in Niedersachsen

Landrover auf Getreideacker
Project data  
Principal investigator: Reinhild Gräber (Dipl.-Biol.)
Research staff: Inga Klages (Dipl.-Biol.),
Christoph Reichler (MSc)
Project duration: since 1991 (ongoing)
Funded by: Jagdabgabemittel des Landes Niedersachsen, Landesjägerschaft Niedersachsen e.V.

Project description

The continuous monitoring of wildlife populations and their habitat conditions is an essential basis for scientifically sound statements on the occurrence and population trends of wildlife species. Population dynamics and ecological interrelations within the “cultural landscape” ecosystem need to be described in relation to the environmental factors that influence population levels. The long-standing work of the IWFo in this field provides a solid basis of data and knowledge for wildlife management. This includes, among other things, providing recommendations for hunting practice and assessing and documenting the sustainable use of wildlife populations.

Since 1991, the area-wide Wildlife Survey (Wildtiererfassung, WTE) has provided information on the occurrence and population size of several native species (e.g. brown hare, grey partridge, red fox, corvids, geese) as well as some non-native species (e.g. raccoon, raccoon dog, Canada goose). The survey is based on annual population estimates by the holders of hunting districts in more than 8,000 districts, covering approximately 80% of the land area of Lower Saxony.

The population estimates from the WTE (e.g. for brown hare and grey partridge) are validated using established wildlife census methods. Further population-ecological studies deepen our understanding of the various game species and the environmental factors affecting them.

The latest WTE figures are published in the annual hunting report of Lower Saxony (Landesjagdbericht).

Selected publications

  • Gräber R, Petianov K, Keuling O: Rissereignisse und (Un)Ruhe: Die Einflüsse der Wolfpopulation auf Reh-, Rot- und Damwild aus Sicht der Jagdrevierinhaber. Wildtiere - zwischen Ideologie und Empirie; 2026: Schriftenreihe der Wildbiologen und Jagdwissenschaftler Deutschlands e.V. (VWJD)., Band 6, Kessel Verlag, ISBN 978-3-910611-39-9
  • Ludolphy C, Gräber R, Strauß E, Klages I, Reding R, Anders O, et al.: Better together: Combining expert and citizen science data improves our understanding of occurrence patterns of lynx and wolves in Lower Saxony, Germany. European Journal of Wildlife Research. 2025;71(2):28.
  • Strauss E, Klages I, Reichler C, Gräber R. Jagdstrecken und ihre Grenzen als Weiser für die Populationsentwicklung: Beispielhaft für Rebhuhn, Feldhase, Baummarder und Nutria. Wildbiologische Forschungsberichte 2024 Schriftenreihe der Wildbiologen und Jagdwissenschaftler Deutschlands (VWJD); Goslar: Kessel Verlag; 2024. p. 24–32.
  • Strauss E, Gräber R, Klages I, Gethöffer F, Siebert U: Spread of the invasive alien species raccoon, raccoon dog and coypu in Lower Saxony 2003-2020. In: Csàny S, Kalandarishvili A, editors. 35 IUGB; Budapest, Hungary: Vadbiológia; 2021.
  • Ronnenberg K, Habbe B, Gräber R, Strauss E, Siebert U: Coexistence of wolves and humans in a densely populated region (Lower Saxony, Germany). Basic and Applied Ecology. 2017.
  • Strauss E (2009): Besatzsituation des Rebhuhns in Niedersachsen - Tendenz fallend. Niedersächsischer Jäger 19/2009, 12-15.
  • Klages I, Strauss E (2008): Small Game and Goose Survey 1994-2006 in Lower Saxony, Germany. Die Vogelwelt 129, 153-157.
  • Strauss E, Pohlmeyer K (2008): Zählen, zählen, zählen:Fakten schaffen! Deutsche Jagd Zeitschrift 11/2008, 15-21.
  • Strauss E, Pohlmeyer K (2001): Populationsdichte des Feldhasen (Lepus europaeus PALLAS, 1778) und die Bejagungsaktivität in Niedersachsen. Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft (47), 43-62.
  • Menzel C, Strauss E, Meyer W, Pohlmeyer K (2000): Significance of habitat structures as a regulatory mechanism for the breeding density of Carrion Crows (Corvus corone corone). Journal Fur Ornithologie 141 (2), 127-141.

Contact

Institut für Terrestrische und Aquatische Wildtierforschung
Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
Bischofsholer Damm 15
30173 Hannover
Germany

 

Reinhild Gräber
Fon: +49 511 856-7557
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