The population of moose and roe deer has increased in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      In the Nizhny Novgorod region, the population of key species of game animals has increased. According to the results of the winter route count, the most noticeable growth in populations of moose and roe deer has been recorded. As reported by the regional Ministry of Forestry, there are currently 26.2 thousand moose in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is 0.6 thousand more than in 2025. The population of European roe deer has grown over the year from 1,800 to 1,873 individuals, while the Siberian roe deer has increased from 2,400 to 2,769 individuals. "These figures are not just statistics: they reflect the result of systematic, painstaking work, where every element matters—from competent regulation of hunting to habitat protection and combating poaching. Monitoring the populations of game animals is one of the important areas of work for biodiversity conservation in the region, and we see that the chosen approaches are yielding tangible results," noted Roman Vorobyov, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Protection of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      According to the results of monitoring game species, the region has recorded a mixed dynamics of populations: the number of white hares has decreased from 49.8 thousand to 46.3 thousand individuals, while the population of brown hares has remained stable at 3.8 thousand individuals. A moderate increase in the fox population has been noted—from 2,959 to 3,057 individuals. The most significant positive changes have affected forest game: the population of capercaillie has increased from 74 thousand to 117 thousand individuals, and black grouse from 133 thousand to 172 thousand individuals. At the same time, a decrease in the wolf population from 24 to 17 individuals has been recorded, which, according to experts, plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region and contributes to the sustainable development of local ecosystems.

      "The winter count was conducted by state hunting inspectors, hunting specialists, gamekeepers, and experienced hunters. A total of 1,609 reports were processed, the length of the routes was 15,621 km, and 217 feeding sites were surveyed—behind these numbers lies the hard work in challenging winter conditions, meticulous observation, and recording of every track. The 'Digital Forest' system was used for data processing, allowing for the rapid analysis of information on assigned and publicly accessible hunting grounds. This digital tool enables us to see the overall picture of the state of populations immediately," added Roman Vorobyov.

      As part of the winter count, specialists conducted a comprehensive study of game animal populations, covering a wide range of species—from moose, wild boar, and roe deer to wolves, foxes, lynxes, martens, stoats, hares, and squirrels, as well as individual representatives of forest and field game. During fieldwork, animal tracks were meticulously recorded, visual observations of birds were conducted, and the number of ungulates at feeding sites was assessed; additionally, weather conditions, the state of the food base, and the influence of anthropogenic factors were taken into account. Based on the collected data, the permissible number of individuals for removal from populations will be determined to ensure the preservation of their overall numbers at a sustainable level, and measures for regulating hunting activities will be developed.

      Let us remind you that the conservation of biological diversity is one of the areas of the national project "Ecological Well-Being," which has been implemented since 2025 in Russia by order of President Vladimir Putin and fulfills tasks previously outlined in the national project "Ecology." The new national project aims to care for the environment and improve its comfort for human life, including creating infrastructure for waste sorting and recycling, eliminating landfills and cleaning water bodies, conserving forests, reducing emissions into the atmosphere, as well as developing ecological tourism and preserving rare animal species.