IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Bizzarri, L.; Capelletti, P.; Lacrimini, M.; Mariani, M.; Ragni, B. | |
| A radio-telemetry study of the European wildcat in an area of the Umbrian Apennines | |
| 2008 Conference Proceeding | |
Between June 2003 and June 2006, in Valle Spoleto, an area of the Umbrian Apennines, 11 European wildcats were captured: 9 males and 2 females. Nine of these animals (8 males and 1 female) were fitted with radio-collars. Of the remaining two, one (a male) was suffering from an advanced tumor and died three days after being captured, while the other (a female) was deemed too young to be fitted with a radio-collar and was therefore implanted with a microchip. Radio-telemetric monitoring yielded 4064 "fixes", which enabled us to analyze the utilization and organization of space and intra- and inter-sex relationships. The mean area of the males' home ranges was 694 ha (95% kernel analysis), while that of their core areas was 121 ha (60% kernel analysis). The total area of the female's home range was 725 ha (95% kernel analysis), while the core area was 114 ha (60% kernel analysis). Except for two specimens, the males shared part of their living space with individuals of the same sex in percentages ranging from 13% to 65%. The female shared portions of her home range with all the males, except during the reproductive period, when overlapping occurred only with the range of one of the males. By contrast, in the post-reproductive period, the female's home range was completely separate from that of any of the males monitored. |
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