The effects of herbivores on the forest woody vegetation were and still are under the spotlight as animals profoundly affect vegetation patterns and processes. Meanwhile, over the last decades, changes in their distribution assumed a very unusual character. The aim was to reveal the changes in animal impact on woody vegetation depending on the forest succession. I used the integrated method of line transects (100 x 4 m) and sample plots (50 x 2 m). The duration of the non-vegetative period determine the time and extent of animal impact to the woody vegetation. The protracted period impelled the distribution of animals in the early successional forests where living conditions meet animal demands. Moose most closely relate to the damaged area (r=0.55). Roe deer and hares are attributable to the early successional seres despite of their classical attribution to the species group of the second succession stage. The key indices of climatic factors could be used to predict the impact of herbivores to forest succession.

 Key words: herbivores, forest succession, impact, woody vegetation.