The Republic of Adygea is located in the Caucasus. A unique and rich ecosystem has developed here, where there are mountain slopes, forests, wide steppes, and alpine meadows. The biodiversity of the animal and plant world is promoted by a mild and warm climate. In the summer, plants bloom luxuriantly, and animals breed their offspring. Autumn is quite warm, cooling, rains and fogs come in November. In winter, the air temperature rarely drops significantly below 0 degrees. In spring, heat comes very quickly, everything blooms, animals wake up from hibernation.

Flora of Adygea

In Adygea, a diverse flora is represented, which has over 2 thousand species of higher plants:

• cereal crops;
• legumes;
• honey herbs;
• berries;
• fruit trees;
• medicinal plants.

Among the endemic flora in Adygea, Caucasian blueberries, Otran's bluebell, Trautvetter's maple, Oshtenskaya gentian, and Pontic rhododendron grow. The arcuate birdman, Caucasian lily, belladonna are rare plants, are on the verge of extinction, therefore they are listed in the Red Book. A huge number of species of mushrooms, lichens, mosses, ferns grow here. In the forests you can find trees such as chestnuts, oaks, hornbeam, beech, maple, birch, fir.

In different parts of Adygea, various types of herbs are common, such as spring primrose, forest forget-me-not, anemone, European hoof, yaskolka, hellebore Lobel.

Not all types of flora growing in Adygea can be consumed by people and animals, since some of them are poisonous. This is Heracleum, spotted hemlock, aconite, Caucasian ash.

Fauna of Adygea

The fauna of Adygea is no less unique. A huge number of birds live here:

• falcons;
• orioles;
• bustard;
• jays;
• pheasants;
• swallows;
• lapwings;
• kingfishers;
• eagles.

Among the rodents in the steppe of Adygea one can meet field mice and ground squirrels, hamsters and forest dormouse. Wild boars, wolves, weasels, forest cats, foxes, jackals live here. In the forest-steppe zone, the fauna is somewhat different. Deer, badgers, hares, brown bears, hedgehogs, raccoons, wild dogs, martens, shrews, minks appear on the territory, Caucasian vipers and snakes are found.

There is a very interesting world of nature in Adygea. Despite the influence and presence of people here, there are many wild places where you can see animals in forests, steppes, meadows and forest-steppes.

The Republic of Adygea is rightfully considered one of the most picturesque corners of the Caucasus. This is a protected haven of vast forests, mountains with snow-capped peaks, turbulent streams, vast steppes and flowering alpine meadows. And the fauna of Adygea is considered a special wealth of the Caucasus, here you can often meet rare representatives of the animal kingdom, found only in these latitudes. The beauty of nature, the favorable mild climate and the hospitality of the locals are all due to which Adygea is rightly called the pearl of Russia, and this beautiful area is included in the World Natural Heritage List.

Vegetation of the Republic of Adygea

Due to favorable climatic conditions, fertile soil and multi-row relief, the flora of the Republic of Adygea impresses with its diversity and originality. So, in these parts there are more than 2000 varieties of higher plants. Among them are many that are beneficial to man: edible plants, medicinal herbs, legumes and cereals suitable for feeding domestic animals, as well as melliferous and ornamental vegetation. And in the forests of Adygea you can find a huge variety of berry and fruit plants.

In addition, endemic (which can only be found in this area) representatives of the plant kingdom grow on the territory of the Republic of Adygea, many of them have been preserved since pre-glacial times, which allows us to study in detail the history of the vegetation cover of this amazing area. For example, the Oshtensky gentian or Otran's bellflower can be considered as endemic plants of Adygea, in general, the number of endemics is approximately 120 species.

The plant world of the republic is rich in rare, endangered plants listed in the Red Book. For example, belladonna, Caucasian lily, arcuate avian and some others.

Fauna of the Republic of Adygea

The fauna of the Republic of Adygea is also striking in its richness and uniqueness.

So, in the Adyghe steppes, there are countless varieties of birds: eagles, jays, swallows, orioles, thrushes, finches, larks, swifts, falcons, cuckoos, coinage, rooks and many others. But the bustard, due to the exploitation of the steppe lands by man, was on the verge of extinction.

There are many rodents in the steppes of Adygea. Among them are hamsters, mice-voles, ground squirrels, rats, forest dormice and polchok. Among the predators of the republic, one can meet forest cats, weasels, jackals, wild boars, wolves and foxes.

The forest-steppe zone, which occupies a vast part of the Ciscaucasian plain and foothills of the Greater Caucasus, is famous for its special diversity of the animal world.

Here you can meet a particularly rare Asia Minor newt - a native inhabitant of these latitudes. Here, among the mammals of the forest-steppe inhabitants, raccoons, brown bears, hares, ermines, otters, badgers, wolves, deer, bison, minks, martens, wild dogs, hedgehogs, bats, raccoon dogs, shrews and the endangered Aesculapian snake live.

Between stones and in mountain gorges, you can often see a rock lizard flashing by. Another endangered species lives on the forest edges - the Caucasian viper. And the mountain rivers of Adygea are famous for trout.

The most prominent representatives among the birds of the forest-steppe of Adygea are bitterns, night herons, corncrakes, kingfishers, little owls, owls, lapwings, pheasants and many others.

Climate of the Republic of Adygea

The hottest month at the latitudes of Adygea is July, the temperature maximum during this period can reach + 38 °. The summer itself is moderately humid, although dry winds do occur in these areas. In the summer, all the vegetation of the Republic of Adygea acquires lush multicolor, and representatives of the animal world acquire offspring.

The autumn season comes to the Republic of Adygea in the third decade of September, although autumn brings the first frosts to the mountain peaks much earlier. September and October in these places, as a rule, are warm, not rainy months, precipitation and fog begin with the onset of November.

At this time, the leaves from the trees actively turn yellow and fall, the birds gathered in flocks fly away, small rodents prepare food supplies: everyone is preparing for the onset of winter.

The coldest month here is January. Frosts are rare, due to the moderately mild winters characteristic of these latitudes with frequent thaws. Thus, the average monthly temperature in January is approximately -3 °. Although, often the air warms up to + 5 ° in winter.

Winter in the Republic of Adygea is the time when the plant world dies off, but as soon as the sun warms these territories a little, green leaves of primroses immediately appear.

Toward the end of February, springtime begins in Adygea. The air is quickly warmed up by the sun, sometimes up to +17°, animals wake up after hibernation, buds swell, heat-loving birds return.

A reliable assessment of the species richness and the state of the animal world of Adygea is currently almost impossible. This circumstance is connected with its extremely poor study (with the exception of the territory of the Caucasian Reserve), the lack of complete information about the animal world of Adygea (“Government report ..., 2003”). Taking into account the existing lists of species and reports on the fauna of the Caucasus, the diversity of vertebrates can be tentatively estimated at 370 species. The species composition of fish is represented by 90 species. Endemics of the region are Afipsky chub, Kuban bystryanka, Kuban barbel. From the class of amphibians in the fauna of Adygea, 11 species are noted. The avifauna of the republic is represented by 275 species of birds. Mammals - about 87 species.

113 species of invertebrates, 6 species of fish, 6 species of amphibians, 8 species of reptiles, 41 species of birds and 17 species of mammals are listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Adygea.

The richness of the fauna is determined by the diversity of natural landscapes on the territory of the republic. In the placement of animals, the belt character is clearly expressed.

The area of ​​hunting grounds of the Republic of Adygea is 432.8 thousand hectares, a significant part of which is located on the territory of the Maikop region.

In recent years, a decrease in the number of the main species of game animals, primarily wild ungulates and a bear, has been observed on the territory of the republic. This process affected the populations of elk, bison and deer to the maximum extent, and to a lesser extent - the tur, chamois and bear. Data on the number of wild boar and roe deer in Adygeya until 1992, apparently, was not preserved, however, during 1992-2003, their number fluctuated within 1,500 individuals of each species. The results of the last (2003) census of the number of bison indicate that no more than 150 individuals of the species inhabit the territory of the reserve as a whole. The results of counting the number of red deer in the Caucasian Reserve in 2003 indicate that the processes of restoring the optimal structure of the populations of these species have begun. Over the past 3 years, the number of deer in the reserve has averaged about 645 individuals. Accounts that allow one to reliably judge the number of alpine ungulates in the Caucasian Reserve in the period 1998-2001. was not carried out. In 2003, visually recorded: aurochs - 1200 individuals, chamois - 1000.

The number of bears in the Adygei section of the Caucasian Reserve remains generally stable with a constant deterioration in the state of their population. There is a decrease in the proportion of rare, native morphs (varieties) of bears and an increase in the proportion of low-value individuals.

It should be noted that the worst situation turned out to be animals whose habitats are confined to the areas least affected by anthropogenic impacts - the lands of the Caucasian Reserve and adjacent areas. On the contrary, the wild boar and roe deer maintain their populations in a relatively stable state, although the low mountains and forests of the middle mountains they prefer are incomparably more subject to the influence of economic activity. It is also noteworthy that the increase in the number of bison and deer, as well as their active resettlement in the territories adjacent to the reserve, occurred during the most intensive forest management and transhumance (“Government report ..., 2003”).

According to experts of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Gosohotuchet of the Russian Federation, the reduction in the number of most species of game animals in Russia is caused by a general deterioration in the socio-economic situation in the country, which stimulates the growth of poaching (including poaching under the guise of licenses), as well as natural factors. In particular, the increase in aridity in spring and early summer negatively affects the food resources of herbivores; the increase in snowy winters worsens the wintering conditions for animals. The state of the animal world depends on a complex set of climatic, biotic, anthropogenic and other factors acting together. The main negative factors are considered to be:

Direct persecution and destruction of animals;

Anthropogenic destruction of the habitat of animals, reduction of lands suitable for their livelihoods (including winter habitats), reduction of food reserves, disruption of migration routes, displacement of the remaining animals to lands with pessimal conditions;

Weather and climatic conditions;

Action of other biotic and technogenic factors.

There is a high probability that the current situation was caused by the massive anthropogenic impact of the 1970s and 1980s, the consequences of which are now being manifested. The leveling of the situation after the depression of 1991-1997 is associated with the strengthening of control over the management of hunting facilities, the intensification of the fight against poaching, the implementation of a strict limitation of animal production quotas, and the creation of hunting reserves.

Data on the number of animals in the lands of the Republic of Armenia are presented in Table. 4.12.1.

Specialists of the KGBPZ believe that, in contrast to the all-Russian indicators, in the Republic of Adygea, only the populations of wild boar and roe deer, the most prolific of ungulates with a wide ecological niche, have stabilized. The number and habitable lands of unproductive and living in extreme conditions species - Caucasian red deer, bison, chamois, tour - continue to decline. The population of the Caucasian brown bear on the territory of the reserve and the Republic of Adygea also shows signs of increasing degradation - the destruction of the sex and age structure, a decrease in polymorphism.

Table 4.12.1.

Data on the number of wild animals in the hunting grounds of the Republic of Adygea

and on the territory of the KGBPZ ("Government report ..., 2003").

	Post-harvest abundance (thousand heads)			Number in 2003 (thousand heads) according to accounting
red deer
sika deer
hare hare
raccoon dog
European mink
forest cat
Raccoon

The Republic of Adygea is one of the picturesque corners of the Russian Federation. The forests of Adygea are one of its most important riches. They occupy almost 40% of the territory. The forest serves as an excellent habitat for many species of mammals; representatives of the predatory order have long lived in it. The role of carnivores in flattering ecosystems is undoubtedly high and should not be underestimated. In modern conditions, both a strong decrease in the number of predatory species and a strong increase in their number in the forest ecosystems of the Republic of Adygea are undesirable. After all, carnivores are a powerful regulator of the number of animals. In 2002, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Adygea, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Armenia, issued a resolution that completely prohibits the shooting of large mammals, including representatives of the predatory squad, for five years on the territory of the Maykop region and adjacent territories.
The influence of predators on the fauna of the Republic of Adygea
With relative abundance in the flattering ecosystems of the Republic of Adygea, predators can actively influence the composition of the population, life expectancy, reproduction intensity and distribution of their prey. In favorable conditions and in the absence of enemies, mice and voles live up to a maximum of three years, and rarely more than a year in nature. Extermination by predators plays a major role in this, and it is the greater, the higher their number.
Predators exterminate either predominantly males or females, sometimes young or adults; with a large number of enemies, this significantly changes the age and sex composition of the populations of the persecuted species. Under the influence of increased extermination in populations of small rodents, the proportion of adult males decreases in summer, especially in older groups; this sometimes results in temporary polygamy or an increase in the number of bachelors.
Thus, selective extermination by predators of certain ages and sexes, reducing the life span of mature individuals, reduces the intensity of reproduction, and sometimes leads to its cessation. This influence is not noticeable in the years of abundance of prey and small number of predators, but it is significant in the reverse ratio. Predators affect prey dynamics by limiting opportunities to exploit favorable forest habitats. Predators exterminate a small proportion of their prey until the number of the latter has reached a critical level for a given biotope. Thus, the impact of predators is not limited to the extermination of prey, but changes the structure of populations and the fecundity of prey. Not surprisingly, large increases in the number of herbivorous species are usually preceded by a decrease in the number of their pursuers.
The role of predators during the importation of alien species is especially convincing. Thus, the raccoon dog brought to our biotopes from America did not take root well in forest biotopes as a result of the influence of predators that did not react to the odorous glands of this species.
The significance of predators in the dynamics of prey populations in forest ecosystems depends not only on numerical ratios, but also on the conditions of their existence. The latter is associated with the availability of prey, its mobility and the protection of habitats, depending on the vegetation cover, the state of forage, weather, etc. Favorable weather for herbivores, good growth and fruiting of plants in forests usually
are unfavorable for predators.
The overall hunting success of predators and their impact on the prey population can be determined both by the breadth of the distribution of their prey after breeding in less favorable habitats, and by the occurrence of an unfavorable situation in the main biotopes. In the latter case, the increase in the importance of predators in prey mortality indicates that unfavorable weather or other external factors in themselves have not reached a critical state and cannot serve as a direct cause of death. The destructive activity of predators with the growth of prey populations is increased by excessive production of the number of animals; under these conditions, some predators accumulate stocks reaching tens of killed animals.
The complexity of the relationship between predators and prey in forest ecosystems is increased by the fact that, by exterminating individual species to varying degrees, predators affect interspecific relationships and thereby indirectly favor some and contribute to the suppression of the number of other species. Predators with a small number or unfavorable conditions of hunting cannot restrain the increase in the number of persecuted species. Under these conditions, it occurs quickly and, due to the geometric progression of reproduction in mass species, often takes on the character of a sudden appearance. Given the relative abundance of pursuers and the unfavorable living conditions of the pursued, predators can actively restrain the increase in the number of prey and cause a long-term low level of prey.
numbers. Under constant conditions of existence, the relationship between predators and prey itself can excite the numerical fluctuations of both in forest ecosystems. This is because the probability of prey capture by a predator increases with an increase in its population density faster than the population itself grows. The growing supply of food intensifies the reproduction of predators, which progressively increase the pressure on the prey, which at a certain stage causes a reduction in its numbers, and then in the multiplying pursuer. But the latter again allows the victim to multiply, due to which the cycle repeats.
The complexity of the role of predators for the populations of their victims in the forest ecosystems of the Republic of Adygea lies in the fact that by attacking prey, predators often have a positive effect on the populations of these species. They catch sick and weakened animals and thereby reduce the number of carriers of the infection and its spread. With helminthic invasions among hares, wolves and foxes begin to catch mainly infected animals. The elimination of the sanitary role of predators leads to a wide spread of the disease and a decrease in the number of infected species.

Of all the diversity of the animal world of Adygea, some species of ungulates, fur-bearing animals and game birds are of hunting and commercial importance. The main types of game animals are deer, roe deer, wild boar, hare, fox, raccoon dog, marten, squirrel, wild cat, otter, badger, pheasant.
The most important task in the conditions of intensive development of the territory was the protection of wildlife. Despite the high ecological value of the hunting grounds of the forest zone of Adygea, a noticeable increase in the main animal species, with rare exceptions, is not observed on the territory of the republic.

The main animals of the Republic of Adygea

Ordinary, or gray wolf.
Body length 105 - 160 cm. Outwardly, the wolf looks like a long-legged large domestic dog. The neck of the wolf is short, inactive, the muzzle is wide, elongated, the ears are pointed. Fur color is variable.
Spreading. In Adygea, the wolf is found in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.
The wolf is distinguished by great ecological plasticity. But still tries to avoid forests. The wolf is a typical predator, obtaining food on its own, actively searching for and pursuing prey. The basis of nutrition for wolves
in the forests of the Republic of Armenia are deer, wild boars, goats. Along with large animals, hares, mouse-like rodents, and ground squirrels play in the diet of wolves. In summer, wolves do not miss
chance to eat a clutch of eggs and chicks. Foxes sometimes become the prey of wolves in our forests. They do not disdain the corpses of large ungulates. Wolves, especially in the southern regions, to which the territory of the Republic of Armenia belongs, also eat some vegetable food - various berries, lily of the valley fruits, wild fruits and even mushrooms. In the mountains, wolves make seasonal migrations following herds of wild animals. Wolves play an important regulatory natural role as regulators of the number of ungulates and many other animals. Therefore, the number of wolves in our forests must be strictly controlled and regulated.

Common jackal.
In appearance, the jackal looks like a small wolf. Its body length is 71 - 85 cm, the tail is 20 - 36 cm. The coat color in winter is fawn, dirty yellow, with noticeable red and black tints; the tail is reddish brown, with a black end. The jackal feeds on a wide variety of food, mainly small animals and birds, as well as lizards, snakes, frogs, locust beetles. An important role in its diet is played by carrion, the remains of the prey of large predators, and all kinds of garbage. The jackal eats a lot of fruits and berries. As can be seen, the role of the jackal in natural forest biocenoses is less significant than that of the gray wolf, it is not a regulator of the abundance of large mammals, and only in years of strong reproduction of small rodents can it contribute to the regulation of abundance.
The jackal is a sedentary animal and does not make seasonal migrations. Jackals in forest biocenoses perform a sanitary role. But the jackal is sometimes a source of dangerous diseases -
rabies and canine distemper.

The kind of fox. Common fox.
Medium or small size, length up to 90 cm. Tail up to 60 cm. Body weight up to 10 kg. The muzzle is narrow, pointed, the ears are high, pointed, wide at the base. The coloration is from red-orange to yellow-gray, but in most cases bright red, with an indistinct dark pattern. The coat is soft, thick and fluffy. . In Adygea, it is found in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.
The fox is rather sedentary; regular migrations are generally not characteristic of it. The fox, although it belongs to typical predators, eats a wide variety of food. In the forests of Adygea, the basis of its diet is made up of small rodents, mainly voles. The well-being of the population of this predator largely depends on their habitat and availability. Larger mammals, in particular hares, play an incomparably smaller role, although in some cases foxes catch them, especially hares, quite often, and during the hare pestilence they eat their corpses. Sometimes foxes attack small cubs of roe deer. Birds in the diet of foxes are not as important as rodents, although a predator will never miss the opportunity to catch any of them. In summer, laying eggs and chicks are destroyed. In the south of the range, the territory of the Republic of Adygea can also be included here, plant foods are widely included in the diet of foxes. In forest biocenoses, it destroys a large number of rodents by regulating their numbers.

Bear family (Ursidae).
Includes the largest representatives of the order leading a predatory omnivorous and herbivorous lifestyle. Build massive body short and powerful. The head is broad at the base with a rather short, rarely elongated muzzle. The eyes are small, the neck is thick and short, the limbs are massive, five-fingered, the color is monochromatic brown, the skull is large and massive. The molars are practically devoid of cutting apices, the carnivorous teeth are not pronounced. In RA, the family is represented by one genus Bears.

Brown bear.
Body length up to 2 m. Large beast of heavy build, with massive thick limbs. There is sometimes a white or whitish spot on the chest. The color of the fur is brownish-yellow to dark brown. The hairline is thick and coarse. In Adygea, it is found in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts. The most typical habitat for a bear in the forests of the republic is dense forests with lawns, glades and reservoirs. Bears hunt deer, wild boars, etc., and then not all of them are engaged in hunting, but mainly large old males. It is simply amazing that such a powerful beast feeds mainly on berries, fruits, nuts, green plants, insects, their larvae, and carrion. In the forests, the trees that are climbed for fruits are greatly spoiled.

The kunya family.
They include animals that are diverse in structure, lifestyle and size. The smallest predator is the weasel. In most cases, the body is elongated. The ears of some species are small, rounded, while others are rather large, pointed. The neck is shortened. Many species have a gland at the base of the tail. The hairline is thick in many species, fluffy and even shaggy. Coloring is different. Two genera definitely live in Adygea: Martens and Laski and ferrets.

weasel
A small predator, body length in males is 17-24 cm, and in females - 5-7 cm. The body is elongated, flexible, with short limbs and a short tail. The underside of the body is white. The color of the fur on the back varies from light rusty brown to chestnut brown. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts. Weasel in forest landscapes is found where mouse-like rodents are especially numerous - in overgrown clearings, along the edges. Weasel with amazing dexterity and energy destroys mice, voles, chasing them even in holes and shelters and, on occasion, killing more than it can eat. This caress brings invaluable benefits. Acts as a regulator of the number of mouse-like rodents.

Stone marten
Body length 45 - 54 cm. The coloration is light, brownish - fawn, the tail and limbs are noticeably darker than the back. The throat patch is white. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and
alpine belts. Shelters for martens are hollow squirrel nests, rock crevices. In forest landscapes, they prefer to eat a wide variety of food - all kinds of rodents, birds, insects, various berries and fruits. Plant foods often even predominate. Martens willingly feast on honey and wild bee larvae. The stone marten more often lives on treeless rocky mountain slopes, but is also found in forest biocenoses, where its role is not as great as, for example, the pine marten.

pine marten
It has a body length of 38 - 58 cm, tail 23 - 32 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. The fur is thick, fluffy, usually dark brown in color. The pine marten, as the name suggests, is a typical forest dweller. She prefers cluttered forests with large hollow trees, and comes out to open places only during hunting. The pine marten is a very energetic and strong predator, but sometimes it also eats plant foods. The pine marten is not limited to small animals, but also successfully catches hares, hazel grouse and even wood grouse, and squirrels on trees. Cases of capture of hedgehogs are known. The number of martens in the forests of the Republic of Adygea is subject to significant fluctuations over the years, mainly from the number of food objects - mouse-like rodents, squirrels, hares.

feline family
A highly specialized group of predators. Adapted to the extraction of food mainly by stealing or ambush, less often by pursuit. Sizes from small to large. The body is slender, more flexible
or less stretched. The neck is shortened, the head is rounded with a short muzzle; in most species, the limbs are long, but strong walking fingers. In Adygea, representatives of the cat genus are distributed everywhere in flattering landscapes. We have two species, the lynx and the European wild cat.

Forest cat.
In appearance, especially in color, it is similar to an ordinary gray domestic cat, so it is often very difficult to recognize them, especially since domestic cats often run wild. The forest cat is more densely built, larger, with a thick tail, as if chopped off at the end. Body length up to 75 85 cm. Weight about 6 kg. For shelters, a wild cat uses crevices of rocks,
hollows, old fox holes. It usually hunts at night or in cloudy weather. It feeds mainly on small rodents, partly on passerine birds. But there are known cases of harassing a trotter hare into stealing. In the forest communities of the Republic of Armenia, the number of this species is insignificant and this species supplements the list of rodent consumers.

Lynx
The lynx is quite a large animal. Its body has a length of 82 - 105 cm, tail 20 - 31 cm, weight 8 - 15 kg, rarely more. Her body is short, dense on high strong legs with very wide hairy paws. Wide sideburns are developed on the sides of the head, and tassels are at the ends of the ears. The tail is short, at the end, as if chopped off. The winter coat is very thick and soft. The lynx prefers the deaf, strongly
littered areas of the forest. She is excellent at climbing trees and rocks. Hares form the basis of the lynx's diet. She constantly hunts for black grouse, small rodents, less often for large ungulates like roe deer, in the forest it is preferable to attack foxes, being, along with the wolf, the regulator of the population of this species.

Animals of the Republic of Adygea

The Republic of Adygea is one of the picturesque corners of the Russian Federation. The forests of Adygea are one of its most important riches. They occupy almost 40% of the territory. The forest serves as an excellent habitat for many species of mammals.

SQUIRREL

Appearance. In Adygea, the common squirrel settled from the Teberdinsky Reserve, where it was acclimatized in 1937. The body length of the squirrel is 200-240 mm. The head is rounded, the eyes are large, black, the ears are relatively long, with a brush at the end. Two variants are expressed in the summer color of the fur - a dark gray back and a white belly or a red, bright red back and a white belly.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in the forest-steppe and in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests.

Lifestyle. The common squirrel is found in broad-leaved, coniferous and mixed forests. It feeds on seeds of coniferous trees, mushrooms, beech nuts, oak acorns, berries. The squirrel leads a daily lifestyle. Hollows of trees or nests, which are called "gayno", serve as a refuge, their squirrels are located at a height of about 10 m. The number of litters is from 2 to 3 per year, in each there are from 2 to 12 individuals. They become sexually mature at the 9th month of life, but they start breeding in the second year of life.

Economic importance . Valuable object of commercial hunting.

WOLF

Appearance . Body length 105-160 cm. Outwardly, the wolf looks like a long-legged large domestic dog. The neck of the wolf is short, inactive, the muzzle is wide, elongated, the ears are pointed. The color of the fur is variable - from whitish-gray to sandy-yellow, usually gray, with a reddish or blackish tint, the belly and paws are somewhat lighter. The hairline is thick and fluffy.

Spreading. In Adygea, the wolf is found in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle. The wolf lives in the steppes, subalpine and alpine meadows. Active at dusk and at night. It feeds on rodents, hares, ungulates, as well as plant foods. Lair suits in dense forests. Wolves lead a family lifestyle - pairs persist for a long time or for life. There are 6-7, sometimes up to 13 cubs in a litter, which are born in February. Males become sexually mature in the third year of life, and females in the second year.

Economic value. The wolf is a dangerous predator, its numbers must be strictly controlled and regulated.

BISON

Status - 5th category. A rare species that restores its numbers with the active help of man. The Caucasian subspecies has disappeared, and in the mountainous regions of the country, work is underway to restore free herds of a hybrid form - the Caucasian-Belovezhskaya bison. It is included in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Adygea.

Appearance . Large mammal, body length up to 350 cm. Females are smaller than males. They are characterized by a massive physique with a powerful body, large head, short limbs and tail. The eyes are small. The front part of the body, except for the end of the muzzle, is covered with long, mostly curly hair. The hair at the end of the tail is long.

Body coloration dark brown in winter, lighter and reddish in summer.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in broad-leaved forests, subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle . In the North Caucasus, the bison is a restored species. In Adygea, it is mainly found in the Caucasian Reserve. In 1999, there were 300 bison in the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, and 120 individuals in the Adygei branch of the Caucasian Reserve. In winter bison stay more within the forest belt, in summer they rise to the mountains. They feed on plants, branches, leaves, bark of trees and shrubs. In summer the bison grazes in the morning and in the evening, in winter it feeds during the day. Leads a herd or group lifestyle. Females give birth to one calf, rarely two.

Economic value. protected animal.

ROE

Appearance . The body length is 100 - 155 cm. The roe deer has a graceful physique, high legs, a long neck, a small head, and a short tail. Males have horns with 3-5 processes. The coloration is one-color - gray or brownish in winter, red or rusty-red in summer. The belly is white. The hairline is coarse, brittle.

Spreading . In the Republic of Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, in the forest-steppe, broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests. Lifestyle. Roe deer enter the steppe zone along the river valleys, their favorite places are light forests with dense undergrowth. They feed on shoots, leaves, buds, herbaceous plants, lichens, acorns, berries. They make autumn and spring migrations. The female brings one or two kids.

Economic importance . Industrial look. Roe deer sometimes damage young forest plantings.

FOX

Appearance. A medium-sized animal with an elongated slender body, body length 60-90 cm. The muzzle is narrow, pointed, the ears are high, pointed, wide at the base. Coloration reddish-orange to yellowish-grey, chest white, belly white or black, back of ears black, tip of tail white. There are black-brown and silver-black foxes. The coat is thick, soft and fluffy.

Spreading.

Lifestyle. Fox - found in forests, steppes, along river valleys, in the mountains. It feeds on mouse-like rodents, hares, birds, insects, and berries. Digs shallow, simple burrows. Active throughout the day. In April, puppies are born to the fox, there are up to 12 individuals in the litter. Foxes become sexually mature at 9-10 months.

Economic value. The fox is useful, as it destroys a huge number of harmful rodents. It is the most important object of the fur trade, but in some places it harms poultry farms.

ANCIACAUCASIAN HAMster

Appearance. Body length 150-185 mm. The coloration of the back is grayish-brown, with a large development of rusty-yellowish hues in old individuals, in young it is gray. The chin, throat and chest of the Caucasian hamster are black, extending to the middle of the belly. Against the general reddish-brown background, black and white spots are clearly visible.

Spreading . In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone and the forest-steppe zone.

Lifestyle. Ciscaucasian hamster settles in cultivated fields, virgin areas, in forest belts, in perennial grasses. In addition to a residential hole, the hamster also has pantries, where, without mixing one with the other, it contains food reserves. It feeds on plant foods, germinated seeds, stores grains for the winter. The female brings one or two litters per year, where there are up to 15 cubs.

Economic importance . The hamster harms agriculture, it is the carrier of the causative agent of tularemia.

CAUCASIAN SHREW

Appearance . Body length 51-82 mm. The color of the fur is gray-reddish-brown above, the sides are distinguished by a fawn tone, the underside of the body is silver-white, with a slight yellow bloom.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle . Active throughout the year and around the clock. Most of the shrew's life is spent in search of food. Nests from dry plant residues are located on the ground or in abandoned rodent burrows. The shrew feeds on insects, worms, small vertebrates; daily eats food 2-3 times its weight.

Economic importance . Destroys harmful insects and serves as food for predatory mammals and birds.

RUSAK HARE

Appearance . Body length 50-70 cm, weight about 4 kg. The ears are long, bent forward, and protrude far beyond the end of the muzzle. The hind limbs are long. In summer, the color of the hare is reddish-gray, with black ripples, the sides are lighter, without ripples. Ears with black border. The tail is black above. In winter, the color is lighter.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle. The hare lives everywhere, in forest belts and in fields, in the forest on the edges, overgrown with shrubs. In summer it feeds on herbaceous plants, in winter - dry grass, bark and shoots of various trees and shrubs. Active during twilight hours. The hare does not make holes in the ground; during the day it also rests in secluded places. During the year, the female brings 3-4 litters, in each 3, less often - 7 individuals. The number of hare is declining due to the use of chemicals and fertilizers in agriculture.

Economic value. The hare is an object of fishing, its meat and skin are used, but the hare harms gardens and forest plantations.

BOAR

Appearance. Large animals, body length 165 cm, weight up to 170 kg. The body of the wild boar is short, massive, short neck, large head, short tail. The ears are long and wide, the muzzle is elongated, ending in a snout. In females, the upper and lower fangs protrude upward from the mouth. Body color varies from black and red-brown to sandy and silver-gray. The hairline is coarse, bristly. Piglets are light brown, with bright longitudinal stripes on the back and sides.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, in the subalpine zone.

Lifestyle. Wild boar inhabits broad-leaved, dark coniferous and riverine forests. It feeds on plant and animal feed. In summer it is active from sunset to dawn, and in winter it feeds during daylight hours. Leads a group or herd lifestyle; old males keep alone. In a brood from 4 to 14 piglets.

Economic importance . A game animal, sometimes damaging crops.

MOLE CAUCASUS

Appearance. Body length 111 - 139 mm. The coloring is black. The underside of the body is slightly lighter than the back.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in the steppe zone, forest-steppe, in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, in the subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle . The Caucasian mole is found in various forests, shrubs and mountain meadows. The number is higher in broad-leaved forests. Moles live in underground structures. Nests are located at a depth of up to 50 cm. Moles are active throughout the year and around the clock. They feed on earthworms, insects and their larvae.

Economic importance moles varied. Skins can be used for furs. By eating harmful insects, moles also benefit. In meadows, where there are many molehills, machine haymaking is complicated.

BROWN BEAR

Appearance. Body length 200 cm. Large beast of heavy build, with massive thick limbs. The head is broad, with a short muzzle, the ears are small and rounded. The color of the fur is from brownish-yellow to dark brown. There is sometimes a small white or whitish spot on the chest. The hairline is thick, coarse and shaggy.

Spreading. In Adygea, it occurs in broad-leaved and dark coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine belts.

Lifestyle. The brown bear lives in forests and mountains. It feeds on berries, seeds, fruits, nuts, insects, chicks, fish, and mammals. Bear cubs appear in the den in January. The female brings 1-2 cubs.

Economic value. The bear is hunted for its skin and meat. Sometimes a bear harms crops, apiaries, livestock.