Plants
From the ancient and untouched spruce forests at Gutulia, to the vast marshes and colorful pastures, visitors can find many different types plants. Here, visitors will find different types of witch’s hair lichen hanging from the spruce trees, rare species from eastern regions and small pastoral plants.
In the forest, under your feet, there is a completely separate world: an underground network.
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Trees in symbiosis with fungi
The fungi found in the forest form a type of internet for the trees. Mycorrhiza fungi help the trees obtain nutrients and water. In exchange, the fungi receive carbohydrates that trees produce during photosynthesis. Above the ground, you only see the familiar cap and stem of the fungi, but below ground there is a network of threads.
In addition, some mycorrhiza fungi and other things such as bacteria and earthworms can help to recycle the waste produced by plants and animals. This type of recycling occurs slowly in forests such as the ones in Gutulia. The slower it takes place, the more mass piles up and remains in the soil for a long time. Large amounts of carbon can be found in these types of masses. Therefore, the underground network in Gutulia plays a very important role in capturing carbon and binding it to the soil. This is of great importance in reducing carbon emissions to the air.
Nature is not only important for species that live there and for those of us who wish to visit it, but also because it will help in our fight against climate change.
Animal life
Gutulia is home to an exciting and rich animal life. You can experience great sightings of animals in all seasons. Visitors might get lucky and see rare species that require large areas in order to thrive. Bears and wolverines live in the areas that are close to the border with Sweden. Down in the quiet forests, moose graze while pine martens hunt small rodents. Wild reindeer became extinct around 1880, but domesticated reindeer still graze throughout the entire national park.
In Gutulia, visitors can discover traces that large predators have left behind, and one of the regular visitors is the bear.
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Bears
Bears are omnivores that eat both plants and meat. they often eat ants and other small insects. During the early summer, herbs and grass are important food sources, while blueberries are a favorite meal during the autumn! Bears are predators which means that they sometimes eat other animals.
Bear habitat in Norway can be found along the borders of our neighboring countries. Gutulia National Park is bordered by Sweden and receives regular visits from bears. Especially young male bears that are on the lookout for a partner can often appear anywhere in the country. Bears often prefer inaccessible areas such landscapes that have dense thickets and steep hillsides. They stay in areas like this to keep away from people and other disturbances.
Bears have a great sense of smell and catch wind of hikers from very long distances. Therefore, chances of sighting a bear are small. Should you be lucky enough to meet a bear, it is important to stay calm and slowly move away from the animal. Remember, bears are probably just as wary of you as you are of them.
Birds
Bring your binoculars! What can you see?
Birds can really leave you with some memorable experiences. During the spring, you may be lucky to see male capercaillies jostling with each other to win the females. Perhaps you will hear the distinctive call of the common redstart in the pine forests, or the song of the common greenshank by the wet marshlands in the east. It is not uncommon to see ospreys around Gutulisjøen lake, and with a little luck you might get to see them swooping down to catch a fish.
Have you noticed a grayish-brown, rusty-colored bird that doesn’t seem that frightened of humans? The Siberian jay is easy to spot in Gutulia.
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Siberian jay
For many hikers, Siberian jays are faithful companions in Gutulia’s forests. They live in chattering family groups and are very curious about new guests who arrive in their forests. In preparation for winter, Siberian jays stockpile their food among lichen and dead wood in the old forest. Most of the summer and autumn is used to hide seeds and beetles. Siberian jays select a small area as their habitat and know it inside out. Studies have shown that this clever little bird is able to find most of the food it has hidden. This is a good sign, because there is little food to be found in the forest during the winter months. Using their silent wings, they often approach to have a bite of your packed lunch!
In the olden days, some people thought that Siberian jays brought bad luck, while others call them the lumberjack’s friend or the parrot of the woods.
