Wisent: rubs, marks and digs

Wisents influence their surroundings also in other respects. Some large trees are chosen to rub their fur against and to scent-mark their territory. Due to frequent rubbing the tree may lose its entire bark and will die. It will keep its function as rub and mark tree for a while, but in the end the trunk will rot through at the bottom and the wisents will have to use another tree. The result is an open space, from which the plants on the ground will profit for some time. Sometimes dead wood lying around is rooted through as well.

Wisents love taking sand baths and create large sand pits for that purpose. If such a place has not been used for a while, it may provide opportunities for pioneer plants and lots of insects. For example digger wasps and sand bees, who need bare sandy places to dig their holes.