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Weber, D.
Assessing the Power of a Monitoring Method for European Wildcats (_Felis silvestris silvestris_) Which Combines Lure Sticks and mtDNA Haplotyping
2007 Conference Proceeding
Monitoring European wildcats (_Felis silvestris silvestris_) is difficult not only due to the elusive habits of this species, but also because a reliable distinction of wildcats and free-ranging domestic cats must consider cranial measurements or genetic information. We developed and tested a monitoring scheme for European wildcats which is based on systematic hair sampling by means of lure sticks, and wildcat identification by haplotyping the hair. The test was conducted during one year in a 66 km2 area in northwestern Switzerland, where both wildcats and free-ranging domestic cats occur. Probability of detection was estimated with capture-recapture methods using more than 100 single lure stick®detection histories¯. Based on our findings we propose a efficient and robust monitoring scheme, where efficiency is the power to detect a 10% change in site occupancy within a given area compared to costs.
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