Sunny winter hike Jobbágytelke.

After some misty snowy and rainy days we had a beautiful sunny day in Jobbágytelke. We planned to go and check the walnut plantations. Last summer, my wife saw a lot of broken branches in the walnut plantations. The plantations are situated close to a small forest. The damage is possibly caused by bears or deer.

The Romanian people experience a lot of nuisance caused by the growing population of bears. There have been a lot of sightings of bears looking for food close to Jobbágytelke. People even saw a bear in their backyard. Also a shepherd of the neighbouring village has died due to an attack of a bear.

Bears are protected by law so measurements to control the population of bears are not option.

Bears do like walnuts and while eating them they damage the trees. During winter time bears are not overly active so there is only a small change to encounter them.

My wife took a pair of empty plastic bottles with her to make some sounds to deter the wildlife, for what it is worth. During our hike we saw a lot of deer and a big fox, and luckly no bear.

I can not make any good photos of the wildlife. I do not own a telephoto lens. Even on the trails we found a lot of footprints of deer and animal faeces. On several positions on the undulating terrain lookout towers for sighting and hunting wildlife have been erected.

On our way up to higher grounds I took several photographs. The clouds and sunlight did create an interesting effect on the rolling hills. I also took several images of the neighbouring village called Teleac, From the top of a hill.

For years now almost every stay I have mowed the grass of the plantations with a verge mower. During summertime a diversity of flowers and herbs also grow on those fields. You can smell all kinds of scents of those flowers and herbs, like the strong scent of mint. Physically it is hard working on those fields but for me it is the most natural and mentally soothing experience.

We hope to be back in summer.