Diet of adult and juvenile wildcats in Southern Tuscany (Central Italy)

Abstract

The wildcat is a rare and elusive mammal species, with a broad feeding spectrum. We collected 34 scats of wildcat in the surroundings of a reproductive site to assess the diet of juvenile wildcats and relevant parents in a rural area of Central Italy. The Brillouin diversity index suggested that our sample was large enough to assess the seasonal diet of both age classes. Wood mice were the most preyed species (59.4 %), followed by bank voles (12.5 %). No significant difference was observed between adult and juvenile diet compositions. Birds were rarely consumed and mostly present in the diet of adult individuals, with the exception of the red-legged partridge, observed only in juvenile scats.