June is the most appropriate month to learn to distinct large-leaf linden from little-leaf linden. These are two different tree species and not perhaps a female and a male tree.

The leaves of large-leaf linden are distinctively larger. If we take a look at the lower side, we can see bouquets of white hairs between the veins. In the case of little-leaf linden, these hairs are brown. The attention should be paid to flowers too: in the case of large-leaf linden, there are three flowers in one inflorescence. In the case of little-leaf linden, there are 5-15 flowers above the bract. In the case of large-leaf linden, inflorescences are pending. In the case of little-leaf linden, they protrude behind the leaves in all directions. The species differ also in the time of bloom: large-leaf linden begins to bloom a week or two before little-leaf linden does.

In autumn, we can break the fruit of little-leaf linden. In the case of large-leaf linden, this is not possible, because their peel is too woody. A village tree, typical for the villages of Slovenian (and also German) landscapes, is usually large-leaf linden. It develops wider treetop and lives longer than little-leaf linden: it can live up to 1000 years. In the contrast with the large-leaf linden, we find the little-leaf linden in the forest. It is relatively rare but appreciated forest tree. Good-smelling flowers of both species are picked for medicinal teas. Both species are valued by beekeepers. Large-leaf linden and little-leaf linden are autochthonous species in Slovenia.

It is characteristic of red wood ants that they live in large communities, colonies, where queen ant lives in addition to workers. There can be several ant queens in the anthill. Ants communicate by the sense of touch, vibrations, and mostly by means of pheromones. These are vaporous substances which influence the behavior and development. By transmitting different pheromones, ants distinguish whether there is an alarm or just usual marking of the path.

Ants are related to bees, for they are a vast group of Hymenoptera. In the period of procreation, males and females grow wings. Then, they fly and mate. Only females return and found new colonies. In the anthill, only females live. Most of the inhabitants are worker ants. Their queen is the only one which lays eggs. When the queen lays eggs, workers diligently take care of them. Larvae develop from eggs, then there are pupae, and later little ants are developed. The queen can live up to 30 years. Workers live up to three years, and the males only a few weeks.

The major part of an anthill is under the ground. There, ants raise their descendants and live through winter. In such a colony several hundred thousand ants can live.

Meadow is the home of numerous plant and animal species. Numerous are rare and threatened. The existence of these plants and animals in meadows depend on the way of use of meadows to the greatest extent. Today, meadows are threatened by abandoning the use and by intensifying the use.

Because of abandoning, meadows are overgrown.

Too frequent mowing, fertilizing, the use of phytopharmaceutical products and drainage of meadows reduce their biodiversity as well.

We mow twice a year. In the years when precipitation is abundant, we can mow three times (late in the spring, late in the summer, and in autumn). We can mow dry meadows only once.

Mowing with shearing mowers proved to be the method of mowing kindest to nature, as the mortality rate on non-vertebrates is the lowest. The second place is occupied by mowing with a scythe. Rotation mowers kill most of the bugs.

Numerous animals such as birds and other wild animals most commonly hide in the middle of the meadows. When mowing, it is therefore important to mow from the edge to the edge of from the middle to the edge. Thus the animals can safely retreat to the unmown parts of meadows and to the outer edges. For the greater safety of animals, we recommend the use of warning chains which are placed to the front part of the tractor.

Offspring of the corncrake stay in the safe haven of the high grass all the time: they never leave the shelter. They never cross the mown meadow. Corncrakes stay in the shelter of the high grass and, thus, remain trapped at the end – in the last unmown patch of vegetation in the middle of the mown meadow

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We mow turf in the height of 10 cm. In such vegetation, insects and small mammals find their shelter. We also reduce drainage of the ground and wind erosion. If possible, we let an unmown belt alone. There, numerous insects which pollinate plants will retreat.

is the measure by which we seemingly prevent overgrowing the meadows. However, we in fact only prolong overgrowing. Grassy biomass which remains after the mulching fertilizes the meadow and consequently attributes to the decline of biodiversity. At the same time, non-native invasive species spread, such as goldenrods. Therefore, we recommend the removal of biomass from the meadows.

The fox is mostly a night animal. Especially in autumn and in winter it can be also seen in the daytime. It rests in a den which it digs by itself or it occupies an abandoned badger’s sett. Even though its legs are short, it runs fast and jumps also 3-4 meters in distance. It is a quite good swimmer. It also climbs if trunks are gently sloping.

The lifespan of foxes is up to twelve years. Fox’s predators are a wolf, lynx, and mountain eagle. In addition, goshawk and eagle-owl threaten the cubs.

The fox is the main carrier of rabies.

It eats mice, hares, rabbits and other rodents, larvae of May beetles, earthworms, eggs, birds, fawns of roe deer, calves of red deer, fruit, and other. It is not very successful when hunting. It catches only about 23% of mammals it hunts and 2% of birds.

Both parents loyally take care of cubs until they reach the seventh month of age.

We do not classify European hare among rodents which is how we classify e.g. squirrel, nutria, or beaver. We classify it into a special class of hares and rabbits. Its hind legs are twice as long and strong as forelegs. Its sense of sight and hearing is exceptionally well-developed. Its eyes are positioned very high on both sides of the head, which enables it almost 360 degrees wide field of sight and very well sensing of movements in the surroundings. Its pinnae are long and movable individually in all directions. It sleeps no longer than for one minute and a half: only then it closes its eyes and leans its muzzle to the ground. In nature, it is very difficult to spot it. It rests during the daytime. It is active at dusk and mostly at night. The female digs a shallow funnel-shaped basin in the field or in the forest and delivers 1-5 offspring. They are already hairy. They are not blind and they run freely already after a few hours.

Inconvenient weather and predators kill 90% of annual increment of European hare. These losses are compensated quite successfully by their rapid procreation and big litters. The female is capable of being inseminated again already in the time of gestation. Its uterus is horned. Therefore, two litters can evolve simultaneously.

The species of the eight-toothed bark beetle causes the most damage in Slovenia and Europe among all the bark beetles.

The eight-toothed bark beetle is a small beetle of a cylindrical shape. It grows up to 5.5 mm. The male gnaws a little hole in the bark and creates a nuptial chamber where he usually attracts three females to. The latter gnaw up to 15 cm long and approximately 2.5 mm wide tunnels, where they lay eggs. The larvae gnaw the tunnels away from the female tunnel in bast and bark. Annually two generations evolve (or three generations when the conditions are favorable).

They damage the spruce the most. The attacked spruces can be destroyed entirely. The consequences are vast sanitary felling which can lead to clear-felling in case of a monocultural forest. In Slovenia, the eight-toothed bark beetle causes damage mostly to spruces, firs, and pines.

The attacked spruces and firs are called infested. The decay of treetops is characteristic for them. The treetops change color. Tine holes can be visible in the bark. The trees secrete resin. In time, needles start to fall off. In the last phase, the bark starts to peel off and the tree decays.

The demonstration of the developmental shapes and tunnel systems of the eight-toothed bark beetle. It grows up from 4.2 to 5.5 mm. It got its name after the number of little teeth on its abdomen.

An alive or a drying tree, attacked by bark beetles is called infested.

An example of a tree attacked by larvae of the bark beetle.

It colonizes older spruces with thicker bark.

Bark beetles are common inhabitants of forests and, in normal circumstances, they help eliminate weak and damaged trees. They are also important in diets of other animals, e.g. birds.

In the period of exceptional reproduction, however, they cause economic damage: they reduce the income of wood due to premature felling. They cause a devaluation of wood: some by gnawing the tunnels into the wood, but mostly because of blue-streaks stains in the attacked wood which is a consequence of the blue-stain fungi, which are transferred by bark beetles. They raise the costs of the restoration of the forest, especially, if the forest needs to be restored by planting saplings of forest trees.

The owner of the forest who notices signs of the attack of the bark beetle is obliged to immediately notify his district forester. In his forest, he has to immediately begin the felling or find the contractors for the performance of the felling. After the felling, the forest has to be cleared and the wood has to be driven away.

In order to control the density of the bark beetle population, the control-hunting trees or hunting traps can be used.

The entirely devastated part of the national park Bavarian Forest, caused by exceptional reproduction of the European spruce bark beetle.

The attacked trees are pruned and shaved. Shaving is necessary because there are developed beetles under the bark. We burn branches and bark safely.

Burning the attacked parts of trees: bark and wooden remains. In the forest, we can burn fire only in case if there is no fire threat declared.

In Slovenia, red squirrels are reddish-brown or brown on the back, very rarely reddish. Their abdomen is always white. In winter, a tuft of 3 cm long dark hair grows on their pinnae. The color is very variable even in the same population. Generally, young animals are darker than the adult ones.

It does not feel safe on the ground where it moves with long leaps. It climbs and jumps well. Its tail helps when balancing. It can swim also.

It does not hibernate. It cannot survive without food more than a few days. It builds a nest of branches which is approximately 30 cm in diameter. Most commonly, the nest is 8 m above the ground but never lower than 3 m above the ground. It can also reside in a tree cavity. It is mostly herbivorous. It likes to eat bird eggs, birds, and insects in all developmental stages. It also hides food. However, bigger pantries are rare.

Squirrels do not like rain, storms, and snow. Therefore, the first winter is crucial for their survival. Then, 75 to 85% young squirrels perish. In Slovenia, the squirrel is listed as a protected species.

In Slovenia, stoat is rare even though we can encounter it everywhere except in Primorje. Similarly, as a ferret, it defends itself against predators by strong and stinky secretion of anal glands.

The stoat’s tail ends with a black tuft of long hairs. It remains black also in winter when this animal changes summer fur for a winter one – the white one. The male which weighs between 200 and 250 g is much bigger than the female. It is active during the day and at night. It moves in leaps, which are 30-100 cm long. It climbs and swims well. Its sense of sight is excellent. It builds a nest in a tree cavity, a crack in the rock or in an underground tunnel. It never digs a tunnel by itself.

It feeds mostly on rodents, less on birds. When the population density of rodents is low, it also consumes earthworms, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and berries.

In past, the winter fur of the stoat was much appreciated and it was considered as the symbol of aristocracy. In Slovenia, stout is an endangered species of small beasts and is listed as a protected species. It is threatened mostly by road traffic and chemicals in agriculture. In past, the winter fur of the stoat was much appreciated and it was considered as the symbol of aristocracy.

Spruce is the most numerous tree species in Slovenia. Once, it was not so much spread and grew only in mountainous parts and cold valleys. In the second half of the 19^th century, they started to plant it massively also in other parts of Slovenia. Today, it grows almost in entire Slovenia.

Spruce grows up to 60 m in height. Its bark is resinous, reddish-brown, and very coarse. Buds are up to 6 mm long. Needles are 10 to 25 mm long and sharp at the end. If we hold a branch with needles in hand they prick us in our palm. Thus, we distinguish a spruce from a fir easily. Spruce needles are four-edged. They stay on the branch from 5 to 7 years, in some cases also up to 9 years.

Roots grow shallow under the surface. That is why stronger wind or heavy snow can overturn or break the spruce. Cones, which hang down, emerge from the female inflorescences. The cones mature in autumn but remain closed. They start to open in February. Winged seeds fall out of them. Cones fall off in summer.

In past, spruce was planted intensively because of its wood. Wood is soft and elastic. Therefore, it is used for the production of furniture, musical instruments, in the construction, and in the paper industry. We produce essential oils from the needles.

We also call it silver fir. After the spruce and the beech, this is the third most important tree species in our forests. It represents more than 9% of the stock in Slovenian forests.

Silver fir has smooth whitish bark and flat needles.

The tree got the scientific name Abies alba because of the two silver white stripes on the bottom side of needles. Needles are individual, two-line, and 2-3 cm long. Cones are upright, green brown. Their scales have a characteristic excrescence on the top. When they are mature, they fall off and only the naked central axis of the cone stays in the tree.

When the tree is young, the bark is smooth, greyish white, with resin glands. Later, it cracks and secretes resin. Fir’s peculiarity is that it can prosper for decades completely shaded in the undergrowth. When the light conditions improve, the fir accelerates its growth very much. Wood is soft and elastic. It is used for the production of furniture, beams, in the construction, and for the production of cellulose.

Bees gather honeydew on the fir. This is a partially processed tree sap which is sucked by some lice and scale insects which then excrete it. When there is a lot of honeydew on the fir, a single hive can gather up to 10 kg of fir honey a day.

In times of creation of rocks which are on the surface of Cerovo, Slovenian territory was on the southern edge of the ocean Tetida. On the bottom drawing, you can see the area where we are, marked with a tiny yellow rectangle.

In that time, the former supercontinent Pangea only started to divide into individual continents which we know today. Between North America and Europe, the Atlantic Ocean already started to emerge. South America and Africa were still joined. In the Mesozoic when Slovenian territory was on the southern edge of the ocean Tetida, more than one thousand meters thick complex or rocks emerged in the surroundings of Cerovo, various limestones mostly.

Today, there is a similar geological environment, as it was 180 million years ago in this space, in Maldives, Bahamas, Polynesia, and others.

Limestone is a rock which is of sediment origin and is predominantly composed of the mineral calcite. Chemically, this is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Almost all limestones emerge in the marine environment when the water is jaded with calcium carbonate. The latter is thus secreted at the bottom of the sea and it covers all the dead organisms in the process.

In Slovenia, limestone is the most spread rock. It covers the largest areas in the Julian Alps and Savinja Alps, in Karst, in the Lower Carniola, and in Kočevsko. It emerges everywhere except in Prekmurje.

A typical forest landscape on Mesozoic limestones in Lower Carniola and Kočevsko. The limestone rocks which jut out of the shallow after-carbonate ground are overgrown by moss.

Most of the limestones in Slovenia emerged in the Mesozoic. Most of the Mesozoic, Slovenia was covered by shallow sea on the edge of a great ocean Tetida. Limestones in the surroundings of Cerovo emerged in this way.

Somewhere, limestone is characteristically spotted. In the picture, there is an example of paleo-karstic cavities, filled with multicolored calcite. Such limestone structure indicates a very shallow sea, even some shifting of the land and sea in time of emergence of the limestone.

It is easiest to spot shells of shells and snails, often also petrified corals, sea lilies, brachiopods, sea urchins and other marine organisms with solid shells.

is one of 10,000 karst caves in Slovenia. In 1962, it was first described by a famous Slovenian karstologist Rado Gospodarič, Ph.D., and his coworkers. The depth of the cave is approximately 25 meters. The common length of the main and the side tunnels is about 80 meters.

Badger is our biggest marten. Its head is pointy. Its torso is strong and bulky. Exceptionally, it weighs also more than 20 kg.

It is a night animal. Usually, it moves slowly and carefully. It is a good climber. If necessary, it swims. It has well-developed senses of smell and hearing. Its sense of sight is relatively weak. In winter it mostly rests in the badger’s sett. However, this is no real hibernation. Badger’s underground residence is a maze of tunnels and expanded holes. There are several entrances with a diameter of 3-5 dm. In a hilly landscape, the tunnels can be up to 10 m long and also 2-4 m deep. “The bedroom” is the largest and it is up to 1.5 m in diameter. The badger litters it by dry leaves, grass, and moss. In the vicinity, there is a latrine, where the badger excretes. Latrines can be in its underground residence as well. Badgers often live in family communities.

Badger can live up to 15 years. Unfortunately, 35% of young badgers do not survive their third year. Wolf and lynx are their greatest predators.

Hedgehogs are an ancient group of animals. Their ancestors were already there when dinosaurs became extinct. In the last 15 million years, the hedgehog has little changed its shape. There are 15 species of hedgehogs in the world. In Europe, there are only two species of hedgehogs.

It grows 22 to 30 cm in length. It weighs somewhere around 500 to 1900 grams. His abdomen is covered with fur and his back by spines. The female delivers 2-10 tiny blind little hedgehogs with soft little hairs and spikes. They suck at their mother 3-4 weeks. They start to see after two weeks. The male faithfully helps in raising offspring. After six weeks already, offspring become independent.

When a hedgehog is threatened, it does not retreat. It just rolls into a ball. Because of that and because of its slowness, hedgehogs are among the most overdriven animals on roads.

In the ancient history, the forest was spread almost on the entire territory of Slovenia up to approximately 1,800 meters above the sea level. When the first inhabitants arrived, deforestation started. The first settlers used wood as a source of construction of their residences, heating, cooking, and numerous products.

Krakovski forest is the biggest lowland float forest in Slovenia. Its central part is especially interesting and protected, where hundreds-of-years-old oaks grow.

By deforestation, they gained soil for the cultivation of crops.

The most widespread tree species are beech tree and spruce. It is also possible to find some foreign tree species which were brought from abroad.

Forests are a complicated and intertwined society of plants, animals, and microorganisms. As an important part of our environment, they filter water and air, protect the soil against the erosion, and enrich the biodiversity. They contribute to a sustainable supply of raw materials from the domestic sources and offer the work and income in the countryside.

Wood from forests where management is sustainable is indispensable renewable construction material. The forest represents the place of relaxation and experiencing the nature. In addition, there are its several important roles: protective, climatic, hydrological, biotopic, recreational, educational, researching, aesthetic, etc.

Until 2030, more than 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in the cities. Urban forests will be the only possibility of the contact with nature for the many. This contact is especially important for children, as they can develop the sense of its preservation only in nature itself. On the initiative of the General Assembly of the United Nations, we celebrate the international day of forests every year on March 21.

Forest track is the traffic route in the forest or outside the forest which is intended mostly for the forest management. They can be up to 3.5 meters wide and they enable the bringing of wood with the bringing means.

The tractor with the trailer and the crane is ready to drive away the wood from the forest. The forest track is planned so that safe turning is possible for tractors in some spots.

Caption to the picture: The tractor with the trailer and the crane is ready to drive away the wood from the forest. The forest track is planned so that safe turning is possible for tractors in some spots.

In Slovenia, most of the wood is dragged from the tree-stump to the temporary warehouse near the truck road by tractors. Somewhere, they still use horses. It is not allowed to drive the tractor on the entire surface of the forest because of the compression of the ground, and injuries of young trees and adult trees.

The construction of forest tracks offers a lot of advantages. It enables cheap bringing of wood in the long term. It increases safety essentially. Forest tracks enable better orientation in the forest.

Forest tracks have also different purposes, such as fire safety, hunting, horseback riding, hikes, etc.

It is an amphibian which usually measures 11 to 20 cm. Females are normally more massive and bigger than males. Fire salamander has yellow spots on the black base. Irregular yellow spots are a recognizable sign of an individual subject.

Behind the eyes, there are distinct glands which are always pigmented. It often resides in the proximity of clear streams and minor ponds, rich with oxygen, where females deposit larvae.

Adult fire salamanders live on dry land. In dry weather, however, they hide behind the trunks of dead trees, under stumps or stones, and the holes between roots of trees and similar cracks are also a welcome shelter for them. In the evening or on rainy days they set out to search for food or a partner. They feed on animals, smaller than they are, e.g. earthworms, insects, and snails.

Fire salamanders are viviparous. Opposite to the majority of Slovenian amphibians, they do not lay eggs, but well-developed larvae.

It is a small 3-5 cm long, light green frog. It has a tiny head with protruding eyes, horizontal oval pupils, and a small round eardrum. From the nostrils over the eyes and eardrum along the hips, a narrow dark brown stripe stretches. It can adjust the color of the skin to the surroundings.

Immediately after hibernation, it can be even in brown-grey color. The abdomen is whitish. The same is the color of the throat in females. The throat of males is in yellow bronze color. This is the only sign how we surely distinct them from females.

European tree frog is an excellent climber. Skillful and safe climbing is assured by thin and slim legs and round sticky pads on the tips of the toes. In Slovenia, it is commonly spread to the 800 m height above the sea level. It is most active in the daytime. However, its sounds and mating activities occur after the sunset. It commonly resides in the bushes and in the treetops, where males can climb as much as a few meters high and are well hidden on the lookout for insects.

In Slovenia, European tree frog is protected and listed in the Red list.

Carbonate rocks, such as limestones and dolomites, form karstic aquifers. Because of the dissolution and consequent porosity (hollowness) of the rocks, rainwater immediately disappears in such a surface (autogenic recharge). Sinking rivers also flow into the aquifer (allogenic recharge). Underground waters then join in greater flows which flow to the springs through the karstic caves.

Karstic springs are natural outflows of water from the karstic aquifers. In the millennia, they had an extremely important role in the water supply, irrigation, and the electricity production. They are also important because of the large diversity and unique biodiversity of underground water ecosystems. A lot of fluctuation, quick response on the precipitation, and occasional muddiness are characteristic of karstic springs when waters are high.

Today, there is a similar geological environment, as it was 180 million years ago in this space, in Maldives, Bahamas, Polynesia, and others.

Podlomščica has a distinct character of the karstic spring. It springs in the gabled valley near the hamlet Podlom, where once two mills stood. Along the right bank of the stream, there are several minor constant and occasional springs, which come to light in the contact of limestones and less permeable rocks.

The temperature of the water is relatively stable (~9.7 °C). The flows rise quickly after the substantial precipitation. Muddiness increases too. In the case of a low water level, one can hardly notice a flow of a few l/s to the surface. In the case of high water levels, flows exceed 1.5 m3/s. Then, water floods the road which connects the farm at the spring with Spodnja Slivnica.

Waters flow to Podlom from the areas south of the spring and from the sinking river Močila at Lipljene.

Podlomščica flows to Grosupeljsko polje with numerous karstic affluents from the west and southwest, where Bičje and Grosupeljščica join it. Water flows to Radensko polje under the common name Dobravka. In the western part of Radensko polje, Zelenka springs. In the southern part of Radensko polje, Šica springs. The latter receives water from Dobrepolje. When water levels are low or middle, the waters drain away directly to the springs of Krka. When water levels are high, the waters flow over Lučki dol.

Roe deer is the smallest representative of the family Cervidae. The height of roe deer’s shoulders is between 90 and 95 cm; the adult animal is one meter long. Its tail is very short. It is white on the bottom side which is used for the communication in the herd and also with the predator. The whiteness of the raised tail warns the other animals of the danger and communicates to the predator that it was already noticed.

Male roe deer is proud of antlers which fall off in autumn. However, new antlers grow until spring. Females do not have antlers. Roe deer live in small groups – herds. Old males become loners. In the dark part of the day, we can hear a hoarse bark – this is a sound of male roe deer. The main predators of roe deer in the natural environment are the lynx and the wolf.

Roe deer’s offspring start walking only after three days. It remains hidden and does not follow its mother. Predators have difficulties in discovering it because its outer glands do not function yet. Until the sixth week, offspring develop white spots all over its body. In the first weeks, it feeds on mother’s milk exclusively. It is nursed at least ten times a day.

Newborn roe deer waits until its mother returns. Even when it becomes an adult it will hover in the same area. Usually there where it was delivered.

Red deer are active mostly at dusk or at night. In the daytime, it rests in the shelter of trees. In the dusk, it begins grazing. It is our biggest even-toed ungulate, which grows to the shoulder height of 150 cm. It feeds mostly on grass, seeds, and fruits. In winter, it can gnaw conifers and peels of bark. Males are distinguished from females by their mighty antlers.

Red deer is a herd animal. Hinds and calves associate. Males form their herds in winter or they are loners. Herds of stags fall apart at the beginning of mating (rut). This is in September when they try to win as many hinds in their mutual fights. The average lifespan of the red deer is 5-6 years in nature. However, red deer can live as long as 20 years. Its main predator is the wolf.

In the 19^th century, indigenous red deer in Slovenia was practically extinguished. At the end of the 19^th century, a few enclosures were built in Carniola and Styria. Most of today’s red deer in Slovenia derive from these enclosures.

A hind and a calf in the summer hair. Offspring’s (calves’) body is spotted in white until they are six months old.

All woodpeckers (except Eurasian wryneck) are specialized for climbing and excavating holes in vertical trunks. Their anatomy is adapted to this way of life. They have strong tarsus and well movable toes with sharp and strong claws. Two toes are turned forward. Two toes are turned backward. The peculiarity of woodpeckers is also the strong chisel-shaped or spiky shaped beak and the skull, which both (together with the neck muscles) absorb vibrations, emerged while knocking and excavating the trunks. Woodpeckers excavate their own cavities.

Great spotted woodpecker is the most common European woodpecker. The male differs from the female by the red spot on the occiput. We recognize offspring by the red forehead. It is active in the daytime when it seeks food when climbing on the tree trunks. In addition to insects which it finds on branches, it also seeks for larvae of non-vertebrates, living in the rotten wood. In order to get these animals out of their tunnels, woodpeckers have a substantially prolonged tongue.

It can often be seen when it waits still for a few minutes and turns its head so that it leans its ear to the trunk. Namely, it has an extremely well-developed sense of hearing which enables it to hear the tiniest movements of larvae through the bark, which hide under the bark.

The eye of the woodpecker has a special skin which covers the eye and thus protects it against the fragments of the wood.

The tawny owl is our most numerous and known owl. It is assumed that tawny owl has the best night vision among all the birds. In its big dark eyes, in the retina, there are more than 56,000 receptors for the light per square millimeter. It lives in coniferous and deciduous forests, in orchards, and there, where there are a lot of old trees.

It hunts at night and feeds mostly on mice and other small rodents, and, rarely, on smaller birds, frogs, earthworms, and insects.

It nests in tree cavities from February to June.

It grows 37-43 cm. Its wingspan is 96-104 cm. It makes sounds in the dusk and at night with characteristic cries. The most common hoot is “cooh-veet”. When mating, the males make a hollow sound “hooh-hooh” and, a few seconds later, shivery “hooh-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh”. In Slovenia, these cries became a synonym for owls’ sounds.

It is threatened by the use of chemicals in the countryside and excessive felling in the forests, which causes the lack of the appropriate nesting places – bigger tree cavities. Therefore, it is necessary to place the appropriate nesting boxes, into which 15-20 cm straw, sawdust, or dry grass is stuffed.

Bear is the largest representative of beasts. Its body is strong and stout. When walking, it steps on the entire surface of its foot. The color of his fur is brown, but it changes shades. Namely, the bear’s fur can also be bright with yellowish shades. On the other hand, it can be dark or black-brown.

On average, the size of a grown female is 150 cm in length and 70 cm in height. The size of males is 180 cm in length and 85 cm in height.

In January, a female delivers 1-4 cubs in the den. The weight of a newly born cub is 0.5 kg. Grown females weigh between 85 and 160 kg. Grown males weigh between 130 and 260 kg, rarely 350 kg.

Bear attacks on humans occur very rarely. As a rule, we can avoid troubles by obeying the following:

• In the area, where bear’s presence is possible we warn about our presence by using our voice.
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• Always keep your dog on a leash!
• Never approach the bear cubs.
• Do not approach bear’s den.
• Never run in front of a bear and do not climb a tree.
• If you find yourself in the direct proximity of a bear (or a female bear with cubs): stand still, remain calm and slowly retreat in the direction where you came from without any sudden moves or shouting. In the case of an attack never defend yourself.

Wild boar is cautious and rational animal. It is the most active during the night. It is an omnivore. Most of his nutrition consists of underground parts of plants and fruits. It roots in the soil and looks for non-vertebrates. It likes carcass. Female boars and young animals associate in flocks which consist of 10-30 animals in Slovenia. Grown male wild boars are loners. They approach the flock only in the season of mating.

The female delivers up to 10 offspring. Maximum eight of them survive because the female boar has eight teats. In this period it leaves the flock and builds a nest made of plant material and undercoat.

The lifespan of wild boars is 8-10 years: their most important predator is the wolf which is especially dangerous to them when the snow is deep.

Stone-Age people made their living by hunting and gathering. The first weapons were made of wood and stone. Later, they began processing animal bones and antlers also. In millennia, they perfected the techniques of tool production. They were producing axes, lances, spears, clubs, and similar weapons as assistance in hunting bigger animals.

Ice-Age hunters hunted most various animals. Some of them are extinct (mammoths, rhinos, cave bears, giant deer, and aurochs). Others withdrew to the very north of Europe when the Ice Age was over: reindeer, wolverine, muskox, moose, and buffalos.

By stratification of the society, the upper class of the population reserved the exclusive right to hunt. Hunting thus became entertainment of the aristocracy. Lower classes were mostly forbidden to hunt. Therefore, poachers emerged. They had to hunt in order to improve their modest nutrition. They were rigorously and cruelly punished.

Methods of hunting remained the same until firearms emerged. Only the points of spears, arrows, axes, and knives were made of metals instead of bones and stones. Less than 200 years ago, the bear was pursued by cold weapons and unfortunate Tožbar, armed with an axe, lost his lower jaw in the process.

Hunting has a great significance in the development of people and in preserving balance in nature. If there were no hunters, diseases would emerge because of a too big number of animals of some species. These diseases could be dangerous to humans too. Hunters thus restore balance in nature. Conviction of many that hunters only hunt and kill animals is mistaken. In cold winters and hot and droughty summers, hunters are the ones who take care that animals have enough food and water. Because of them, many wild animals survive: they would perish if there was no help from hunters.

Sustainable management and protection of the wildlife have always been the professional and ethical principle of hunters. Because of that, we can still find the wolf, the bear, or the lynx in Slovenian forests – wild animals which have already disappeared in the greater part of Europe. Slovenia manages wildlife sustainably within hunting organizations (hunting clubs, Hunters Association of Slovenia, hunting-districts with a special purpose, public institutes, and district associations of managers of hunting-districts and hunting-districts with a special purpose).

The area where the natural science learning trail “On the trail of the Kingfisher” runs is managed by the hunting club Taborska jama.

Wolf is one of the most spread mammals in the world. In the 19^th and the 20^th century, the wolf was eradicated from the entire central and northern parts of Europe. For the last two decades, the populations have been strengthening and expanding naturally. In Slovenia, the wolf was never really eradicated. Therefore, the present population represents one of the rare autochthonous populations which survived in Europe. Since the wolf became entirely protected, their numbers have been growing.

Family instinct is characteristic of the wolf. The couple is very connected at the time of delivering the pups. The male brings food to the mother and the offspring. He vomits food close to the den. Later the female brings food also.

The pack is made of 2 to 20, most commonly of 5 to 8 wolves. The parenting couple is dominant. The other pack members are usually their offspring or relatives.

The length of the wolf’s body is 100 to 120 cm. Its shoulder height ranges between 45 to 75 cm. Males are also bigger than females as much as one third. Grown-up wolves can weigh up to 80 kg. They are good and persistent runners. Unlike dogs, they have a ten-centimeter-long and two-centimeter-wide black stripe on their forearm.

Lynx is a rare, timid animal. It is the most threatened species of mammals in Slovenia. Only a few people see it in nature because it hunts during the night and rests during the day. Although the number of subjects is supposed to be stable today, it still is listed as a threatened species. Therefore, the cull is allowed with the official decision only. Lynxes are short-tailed cats on high legs which have a tuft of hair grown on the top of their pinnae, which other cats do not have.

Their fur is thick with long and fine hair. The reddish grey back is covered by brown spots. The end of the tail is black. The abdomen is whitish. The hair on the cheeks in prolonged into the “beard”. Males are bigger and stronger than females. They weigh up to 50 kg. Lynx is a specialized predator which hunts from the ambush. When hunting, it relies on sight and hearing. Its lifespan is 14-17 years. It has no predators but it avoids the wolf. His claws can be entirely pulled back to his paws. When inhaling and exhaling, it purrs like a cat. Its sight and hearing are exceptional, for it can spot the prey even from the distance of fifty meters.

It is one of the thirty species of bats which live in Slovenia. In the underground caves, they hibernate. In summer they use them as daily shelters. They are protected species.

We distinguish them because of their characteristic silhouette: during their rest, they hold to the ceiling and hang with their heads down. They are entirely wrapped in their wings.

The body of lesser horseshoe bat grows up to 4.5 cm and weighs up to 10 g. Its wingspan is up to 20 cm. A slightly bigger greater horseshoe bat is similar to it.

They are active at night. At dusk, they fly out of the cave and feed on insects. They are oriented in space by echolocation – their hearing organ intercepts the repulsion of their cries. Thus, they identify and catch the prey. Humans cannot hear lesser horseshoe bats, as they sound in the frequency sound of ultrasound.

Gestating females seek shelter in the attics in spring (in churches, church belfries, agricultural buildings…) where they mainly deliver and raise a single offspring. In maternity colonies, 30 to 40 females with their offspring can tarry.

They live through winter hibernating. Their metabolism slows down very much. Their body temperature drops to the temperature of the surroundings. While hibernating, they do not form compact clusters. There are at least a few centimeters of distance between the specimens.

Lesser horseshoe bat can live more than 20 years.

Luka Čeč, a guide in the Postojna Cave, found a beetle in 1831. Its length was 8 to 11 mm. It got its Slovenian name because of a stick-like chest which resembles the neck. Its scientific name was determined in 1832 after the count Franz von Hochenwart, the curator of Carniolan Provincial Museum at that time.

Cave beetle is a true cave animal (troglobiont). It has no eyes or pigment. Specimens are different in color because of different shades of chitin. It is an endemite of western Dinaric karst. It is spread from Banjška planota plateau in the north to the southern Velebit in the south. They identified six subspecies. Three of them live in Slovenia.

In Županova cave and Lower Carniola karst, the subspecies Leptodirus h. schmidti lives. Cave beetle is threatened. Because of the limitedness of the area where it lives, it is exceptionally rare, even though the number of the specimens in individual caves can be substantial. It is a protected species.

It feeds on the carcass (on the bodies of cave grasshoppers, bats, animals which fall in the cave) and with other organic remains which it finds on the walls of the cave, where the rainwater which trickles through, deposits nutrients. Very little is known about its evolution. Female lays a small number of large eggs. Larvae do not feed and their first molt is the transformation into the adult animal. It lives longer than terrestrial insects. Probably several years.

It is distinguished from the smaller tawny owl by a long tail, yellow beak, and longways striped feathers on the body. There are also subjects in darker colors. It is 55-60 cm high. Its wingspan is between 115 and 125 cm.

It is widespread in Northern, Middle, Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as in Middle Asia from the Ural to the Far East. It is active in the time of the sunset and just before the sunrise, and, in time of raising offspring, also in the daytime. In Slovenia, it is regular.

It nests in tree cavities, in the top of broken trees, and in the old nests of larger species of forest birds. Its nests were found also in buildings, on the ground, and among the rocks. It preys on little mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects.

If there is enough prey in time before the hatching, the male’s hunting will be more successful and the female will lay more eggs. When the offspring is already hatched, the main duty of the male is hunting as well. Larger female meanwhile defends the offspring. In the process, it can be dangerous to humans too. As in the case of other owls, offspring jump out of the nest even before they fly away.

In Slovenia, the Ural owl is a threatened animal species listed in the Red nesting birds list.

It is sensitive to the excessive felling of thick and old trees and all the other forestry works in the time of nesting. In order to preserve the Ural owl, we build nesting boxes which it, fortunately, accepts.

This medium-sized bird of prey (the female with its more than 60 cm in height is for a third bigger than the male) is a supreme predator. Its wingspan is between 100 and 130 cm.

In Slovenia, goshawk is a common species and the nesting bird of forests, illuminated with clearings, swamps, and cart tracks. These illuminations enable it hunting and the approach to the nest. Usually, it weaves its nest in the treetop of a thick beech tree. It can use the nest for several years in a row and extends it at the same time. The male alone takes care of the female and of the offspring until the age of three weeks.

It frequently flies over the area and observes the world beneath it. It has eight times more efficient sight than humans. If it spots the appropriate prey it literally dives on it. Domestic animals are well familiar with this type of hunting, especially hens and even a few cats, which sometimes become its prey. More popular type of hunting for it is the assault on prey from the lookout.

Flying over the hunting area just above the ground is typical of the goshawk.

Goshawk is also listed in the Red nesting birds list. It is threatened the most by poaching and the use of chemicals in the countryside. It is easier for goshawk to catch poisoned animals of the field. Unfortunately, it is then also poisoned by its prey.

Adult animals grow 16-18 cm in length. Their tale is 13-15 cm long. They weigh approximately half a kilogram. The lifespan of a dormouse should be 5-7 years. Dormouse was scientifically first named in 1766. It is a peculiarity that edible dormouse is the only type of mammal whose scientific denomination derives from a specimen from the Slovenian territory.

Dormice hibernate. They wake up at the end of April or even at the beginning of June. Males are first to wake up. In the time of hibernation, they lose 35-50% of bodily weight. They live in groups in dens and in tree cavities. In years when beech tree and oak do not proliferate, dormice do not procreate.

In summer when the days are dry, they also sleep in empty bird nests. When it is hot they drag themselves under the roots of trees. Males, especially older ones are loners.

Dormouse feeds on fruits and seeds. It likes beechnuts, hornbeam nuts, and hazelnuts. When the food is scarce, it feeds on acorns and seeds of fir and spruce.

In nature, dormouse has many predators: owls, stoats, martens, skunks, weasels, wildcats, and, of course, human. The first testimonies about hunting these animals date back to 1240.

He is also hunted by snakes, martens, weasels, and birds of prey. Owls are especially dangerous for it – Eurasian eagle-owl, Ural owl and tawny owl.

In Slovenia territory, there was a famous tradition of hunting almost without a comparison in Europe. The first testimony about such hunting and eating dormice dates back to 1240. Dormouse hunting of the trails is first mentioned in 1460 (Senožeče).

Copper engraving “The devil puts domice out to pasture” – The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola1689: Valvasor could not explain sudden increases of the population abundance of the dormouse, which can happen in years when the beechtree bears well, otherwise as the devil hinmself had driven the dormice.

An individual domouse hunter caugth approximatley one hundred dormice by traps in a single night. With box-like traps in front of a den, he caught additional sixty or so. 

Thus, they caught 800000 dormice in Inner Carniola and in Lower Carniola in a single year around the year 1873. As a part of the tradition, dormouse hunting whas survived to this day. It has proponents who push for its upholding as well as sharp opponents who strive to ban it.

The barn owl is the most spread species of owl in the world. It grows 29-44 cm in height. It has a bright, heart-shaped face with dark eyes, legs covered with white feathers and a short tail. It nests in the attics, in tree cavities, and in nesting boxes. When food is abundant it has 1-2 litters with 4-7 eggs. When food is scarce, it does not nest. The female feeds the offspring by the prey brought by the male. Young owls are capable of flying after 60 days. However, they still hang around in the proximity of the place where they were hatched. They like warm climate with mild winters. They live in church belfries, barns, and decaying buildings near meadows, where there are a lot of small mammals on which they feed.

Barn owl lives almost everywhere in the world. In Europe, it is generally spread and very common in some places. In Slovenia, it is very rare. There are 50 to 100 couples nesting in lowlands and its population is diminishing. It is threatened by the use of chemicals of the agricultural land and the traffic when it is hit by the car when flying over the road. It is listed in the Red list as critically threatened bird species.

Its existence is also threatened by adaptations of older buildings and churches. Closing the church belfries with nets represents the lack of suitable nesting places for it. Fortunately, it accepts the nesting boxes, which are necessary to be placed in order for a barn owl to be preserved and its population to flourish.

Common buzzard is the most common bird of prey in Middle Europe. It flies slowly and often glides on the updraught. When it hunts it dives on the prey very rapidly, most commonly vertically. When gliding, it glides horizontally with its wings a bit raised over the horizontal; its head is pulled between its shoulders. It grows 51 to 56 cm. Its wingspan is between 117 and 137 cm. It sounds the distinctive piercing sound which is similar to the cat’s meow. It has a sharp curved beak, strong legs, and toes with sickle-shaped claws sharp as a needle, and strong and long wings. Most commonly, it hunts mice, voles, rats, and other little mammals. It does not refuse even carcass.

In years when the population of mice and voles boosts, common buzzard raises more offspring. In bad years, it raises less offspring. Thus, the number of its population is regulated with regards to the quantity of prey. In Slovenia, common buzzard is generally spread and is not threatened.

It builds the nest of branches high up in the tree and covers it by dry plants so that it is cozier and warm. It spends winter in Slovenia. It is accompanied by birds from northern and eastern parts of Europe, where winters are more severe. Only when the cold is exceptionally severe, it withdraws to lower parts or a bit more towards the south. It is a characteristic resident of the cultural landscape where meadows, fields, and orchards intertwine with bushy hedges, little forests, and settlements. Common buzzard nests in the forest. It hunts in the open surfaces.

Common buzzard’s exceptional eyesight (in some parts of Slovenia this bird is called “mouse-catcher”) enables it to spot a vole, a shrew, or a mouse, which are its most favorite food.

Welcome to the land of the mysterious forest dwellers.
Since the Turks raged in this country to this day, the Podlomarji (residents of the hamlet of Podlom) have remained hidden from the eyes of the people.
During that dark time, some families fled with all their possessions to the safe fortress by the local church. But it got dark too quickly, so they had to spend the night in the oak forest. They were very afraid and hoped that the Turks would not find them.
Their wish was granted by the dwarf named Cer, who helped them in a dwarfish way: he made them invisible. The invisibility should last until their heart strength and courage become so great that they no longer fear any evil in this world.
That time came a few years ago and now you can actually see the Podlomarji. They live in harmony with nature, which has offered them protection and food for centuries. The fox Podlomar, who selflessly offered them his piece of the forest, was elected their mayor.
They always visit us with a single purpose, and that is to point people to simple, all too often forgotten values: selfless friendship, the power of community and goodwill, love and the warmth of children’s smiles.
Summarized from the stories about the Podlomarji

According to folktales, the village was built when the servants from the nearby castle, standing on top of Gradišnica hill, set up their dwellings in the exact place where Cerovo stands oday. The village was named after an oap, which thrives well in the given environment andin in Slovenian called cer. Nowadays, the developmentof the village is marked by the recreational tourism. Besides being a hometo the equestrian center with a long tradition, Cerovo also became the starting point of the nature educational trail “On the trail of the kingfisher”.

In Log, it is possible to see a part of the natureeducational trail “On the trail of the kingfisher” by prior arrangement. The walk takes you through the forest to the pounds and three bird observatories. What makes the trail special is also the possibility to observe the wildlife in the wetlands. The trail is suitablefor birdwatching, takingphotographs, guided tours for groups, families and individuals, and for the meetings of ornithologists and other experts from the field of nature preservation.

A small village of Podlom lies in the embrace of the forest, on a clearingthrough which the stream Polomščica flows. The karst spring of the stream lies in the forrest, not far away from the settlement. Next to the beautiful pool, there used to stand two mills, but only few remains of their walls can be seentoday. The stream rises rapidly during heavy rains.

Podlom is the birthplace of the Tale of Podlomars. These fairy-tale forest creatures live near the spring of Podlomščica. Te fox’s cabin also stands there.

This pearl of the Lower Carniola Karst has caught attention of many visitors since its discovery in 1926. All kinds of subterranean karst features: dripstones of various shapes and colors, chasm, flawstones with crystal clear water and ice dripstones, formed in winter in Ledenica, can be found in the seven halls, connected by a 600-meter-long well maintained path. The cave is also a home to different animals that have adapted to everlasting darkness.

Tabor Cerovo is one of the rare Slovenian strongholds for defense against the Turks that has been preserved until the present day. A little church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was most likely built in the 13th century on the remains of an older settlement. At the beginning of the16th century, the peasants built a wall around it to protect themselves against the Turkish raids. Besides the protection, the fortified camp also offered storage for the supplies and other valuables.