Close to nature

A stay at Kraggbua will bring peace, a closeness to nature and a peace of mind. These are qualities we want to amplify by getting natural wildlife closer to the people living there.  We already have experience with watching birdhouses, feeding elk and roe deer in winter, and have put salt blocks out for several different animals visiting in the summer. Kraggbua is now set up with several types of birdhouses in the range of a monitoring system that allows you to see life inside the nests, the footage is available on the screen inside the cabin. Among several species, Blue-tits, Common Goldeneye and Owls are common guests.  

The feeding area used in winter, supplied with hayballs, which is in sight of the cabin, is very popular among elk and deer. Typically, these "guests" seek out the place early in the morning and evening, preferably in the period from November to April, but also at night when they are not so easy to see.  Weather conditions, particulary snow, also play a certain role in how long the wildlife will stay at the site.  During summer, the same anamals visit the salt blocks, but not as frequently as in winter. It is especially exciting to visit in the early summer when the female roe deer and her kids (a mother and 1-3 calves were sighted last summer). The same can be said for the female Elk (cows) and their calves, which can appear at the salt block in June / July. It is also good to observe the first bull moose with antlers, at first covered in fluff, then newly polished and shiny, ready to impress at mating time. Hares can also be expected to use the salt block. For predators, remains will be laid out that will elicit scavengers like eagles, foxes and martens. Using a wildlife camera, we have capututred shots of all these animals and more, have a look at our photo gallery, a sub-page of "Close to nature".  

For Those Interested in the Wildlife and Photography: there will be many opportunities to take pictures; at dawn in the morning, in the moonlight at night, or when the sun starts to set. It is not possible to guarantee that you get to partake in this experience, it all depends on chance, the weather and the seasons, and not least, it depends on how highly you prioritize such an experience itself. Wild animals are more easily seen when it is quiet and few movements in and around the cabin. Loud socialising outside in the evenings is pleasant, but provides limited opportunities to get animals into sight. Dogs can become an element that creates unnecessary alertness in most animal species. Dogs barking, leaving their scent, or making themselves known, is often likely to scare wild animals and birds. Animals spooked by a dog can stay away for several days so it also goes beyond your stay and affects other visits. The advantage of living in a treetop cabin when trying to get close to nature, is that the scent left by your visits is less likely to be picked up by the finely tuned noses of wild animals, however,  sounds travel easily and if you want a shot at seeing the wildlife mentioned, we advise you to keep your noise to a minimum. Although we don't think about it, wild animals sense smell, sound and movement, a hundred times better than humans. To increase opportunities to experience wildlife up close, it is therefore not possible to bring a dog in the cabin.  Good luck with your experience!