September in the forest: the bear is fattening up, the badger is tidying up in its den.

      The regional Ministry of Natural Resources reported on the seasonal activities of wild animals. With winter approaching, forest dwellers have already begun preparing for the harsh season. For example, the bear searches for food in berry patches and harvested oat fields. The bear begins to put on fat for the coming winter.

      In September the moose rut continues: males break branches with their antlers, dig holes with their hooves, seek out females and follow them, driving off other moose. At this time moose lose their usual caution and wander onto roads, coming out onto busy highways.

      The wild boar’s routine in September is similar to August’s, although it more actively visits agricultural fields. The badger begins to clean its setts, and afterwards brings fresh bedding into the cleaned sett for the winter. In September badgers feed on fruits fallen from trees, mice, moles, lizards, frogs and snakes. Badgers put on a lot of fat in September. Young badgers become independent.

      Wolf pups go hunting with their parents but still stay together as a litter near the den. Young martens, polecats, otters, stoats and foxes become independent. In September foxes hunt for mice in forests and fields.

      Squirrels from the first litter, older males and females that have not had young, finish relocating in search of good feeding grounds. In doing so, squirrels sometimes travel huge distances, even swimming across rivers and lakes.

      Hares are frightened by the onset of leaf fall and leave the forest. Mountain hares relocate to small spruce stands, dried-up marshes and forest edges. Brown hares move to edges, to fields and to ravines overgrown with weeds.

      Beavers begin to “fell” trees, vigorously stockpiling food for the winter. At a felled tree beavers gnaw off branches, bite the trunks into sections weighing 5–6 kg and float them to their lodges. In September beavers look the plumpest and weigh more than at other times of the year.