AbstractThe red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a generalist mesopredator found throughout the UK. It has been linked to national declines in native wildlife, especially ground-nesting birds such as waders. In the New Forest National Park, nest predation and poor chick survival is primarily responsible for low breeding success of Eurasian curlew (Numenius arguata), a species of high conservation concern. To reduce predation losses, foxes are lethally controlled by wildlife managers. Here, we identified the major food resources that are being exploited by foxes in the New Forest area and examined temporal and spatial patterns in the presence of specific food categories, with special reference to anthropogenic food. Stomachs from foxes culled in curlew breeding areas were collected from April 2021 - July 2022 and the contents of these stomachs were quantified. Foxes exhibited a highly varied diet with no single food category predominating. Anthropogenic food comprised 14% of the overall diet, with its presence predicted by proximity to human settlements and other infrastructure. We also estimated the total annual volume of anthropogenic food consumed by the fox population and by extension how many individual foxes this volume of food could support in isolation. According to these calculations, at present the number of foxes subsidised by anthropogenic food is approximately 64.8% (50.2–79.7%) of those removed by culling per year. Our findings highlight that better local food sanitation and education should become important parts of a more holistic management approach to reduce the burden of fox predation experienced by breeding waders.

AbstractThere is a growing body of evidence that weasel species are in decline globally. More data on their ecology and distribution are needed to plan and justify any conservation management actions. Camera trapping can be an effective survey method for many species; however, the small size and quick movements of weasels present challenges in detection and little consensus exists on practices for attracting them to improve detection. This study tested different combinations of meat baits and scent and audio lures to assess the most effective methods. Camera traps were set up in clusters of three at 42 sites to test the effectiveness of these combinations, accounting for season, in terms of the time to first detection (TFD), detection probability using occupancy models, and the number and clarity of weasel photos. We also repeated TFD and detection probability analyses for setups that were ≥ 20 m apart in case of overlap of effects. The average TFD across all sites was 43 days. Fall typically had the shortest TFD with beaver bait in fall achieving the best results. After accounting for occupancy, predicted detection probability across a 60-day survey was highest in fall with the best combination being salmon lure and beaver bait. The treatment type did not impact the average number of photos captured, but the clarity of photos was significantly positively related to use of bait and lure, type of lure, and specific combinations of bait and lure.

AbstractWe describe a cases of main setts of European badger Meles meles being used by non-native raccoons Procyon lotor and raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides and native red foxes Vulpes vulpes in western Poland. From April to June 2022 and from November 2022 to mid-April 2023, we monitored the main badger setts (27 in spring and 14 in winter) using camera traps. We recorded the presence of red foxes in 63.0%, raccoon dogs in 48.1% and raccoons in 22.2% of the setts. These species were more likely to occupy badger setts in winter. The raccoon is the second invasive species after the raccoon dog to use badger setts for shelter in Poland. In four setts, we observed that two native (badger and red fox) and two non-native (raccoon and raccoon dog) mesocarnivores cohabited the same sett.

AbstractThe Alpine mountain hare (Lepus timidus varronis) and the European hare (Lepus europaeus) live parapatrically along the elevation gradient in the Alps with areas of overlap. Indications suggest competition between the two lagomorph species in overlapping areas. Resource partitioning in form of feeding niche differentiation may reduce competition and enable coexistence. The two hare species hybridise and produce fertile hybrids. To examine foraging behaviour of Alpine mountain hares, European hares and their hybrids in the Alps with particular interest in indications of competition between the two lagomorph species, we performed genetic analysis of hare faecal samples collected on five transects along the altitudinal gradient in the Alps in Grisons (Switzerland) at the middle and the end of the vegetation growth period in the year 2021. We then investigated visually foraging ecology using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIRS). We recorded 32 European hares, 50 Alpine mountain hares, and 18 hybrids. Foraging behaviour of the Alpine mountain hares was different from foraging behaviour of European hares and hybrids. Alpine mountain hares displayed a specialist’s foraging behaviour, whereas European hares and hybrids a generalist’s foraging behaviour. Some Alpine mountain hares inhabiting overlapping elevations with European hares showed feeding niche differentiation, whereas others showed similar feeding behaviour as European hares suggesting competition between the two species about food. Our study underlines that European hares living in the Alps might be a competitor to the Alpine mountain hare. As a specialist, the Alpine mountain hare will be susceptible to future environmental change due to climate change.