31 October 2024

Italy’s Wolves & Other Mammals

I have been visiting Italy’s Abruzzo and Central Apennines every summer and autumn since 2017, for its endemic mammals: notably the Apennine Wolf, Marsican Bear and Apennine Chamois. A relatively unknown part of Italy among naturalists, there has been a gradually growing interest in the area but it still feels unspoilt especially in autumn. With rolling green mountain slopes dotted with incredibly picturesque medieval villages, beech woodlands and clear rivers, the area is perfect for a fix of nature and culture.

Returning for a week this October, we were treated to a thrilling variety of wildlife encounters and photo opportunities among rich autumn landscapes.

The full tour report is attached, with precise wolf location names removed.

I’ll be returning to photography and look for wolves and other mammals in May and September/October 2025 if you’d like to join!

Over 6 days, highlights included:

  • Apennines Wolf cubs and packs – from the sight of 2 wolves with orange ears on our first morning as they hunted among cattle, to 7 cubs playing for several hours on our last morning, we were treated to numerous encounters of this shy endemic canid (<300 in Italy). We located these thanks to years of combined local knowledge of the individuals and packs, thermal imaging equipment, and local connections.
  • 12 mammal species – a rare Hazel Dormouse in the beech forests posed beautifully for our cameras; Apennine Chamois; 1 Wild Cat in the early hours; 2 Calabrian Black Squirrel; 1 ‘Black’ Red Squirrel’; Wild Boar; a few rutting Red Deer; Roe Deer; Pine Marten… The Marsican Bear this time eluded us; we believe given the quantity of acorns this year that the bears were deep in the woodlands rather than feeding on fruit orchards.
  • Birds – although not our target, as birdwatching at this time of year can be challenging, we had a few encounters with endemic Lilford’s White-Backed Woodpecker, and notables were Bonelli’s Warbler, Dipper, Rock Partridge.
  • Magnificent beech forests – at this time of year, the beech / sycamore / oak forests are ablaze with autumn colour. Also the scent of white truffles followed us on many walks!
  • Other Fauna – the last remaining population of White-Clawed Crayfish, plus interesting amphibians and insects.
  • Excellent local food and company!

Paul TOUR REPORT Abruzzo Adventure 2024 

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Paul Collins

Professional wildlife photographer, nature guide and TV cameraman based in London, UK. 

I am proud to offer my services as a photography and nature guide. I currently run two mammal-centric tours: for Marsican Bears and Apennine Wolves in Italy, and Arctic Foxes in Svalbard. Take a look at my website at paulalistaircollins.co.uk/workshops-europe-tours, where you can see my current tours or request a tailor-made photo tour for your mammal targets. Specialising in wildlife and low-light photography, my wildlife photos have been recognised by major awards including British Wildlife Photography Awards, Scottish Nature Photography Awards, International Wild Bird Photography Awards, and Mammal Photographer of the Year, and has featured in global press such as the Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times, Scotsman and National Geographic Italia. I also work as a freelance shooting producer on documentaries and factual entertainment for the BBC, ITV, Netflix, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, Smithsonian, and Rai, among others. 
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