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Friembichler, S.; Slotta-Bachmayr, L.; Hagenstein, I.
The wildcat (_Felis silvestris_) in Austria - II. Status and threats of the European wildcat in Austria and adjacent states (Die Wildkatze (_Felis silvestris_) in Oesterreich - II. Status und Gefaehrdung der Europaeischen Wildkatze in Oesterreich und den angrenzenden Staaten)
2012  Mitteilungen aus dem Haus der Natur (20): 69-79

Formerly widespread across Austria, the European wildcat disappeared from the local forests in the middle of the last century. Apart from a few sites of discovery little is known about the current situation in Austria. According to Spitzenberger (2005), there is currently no evidence of a reproducing population. The aim of this study is, on the one hand, to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning the status of the wildcat in order to ascertain whether and where there are wildcats in Austria. On the other hand, threat and status of populations in neighbouring countries are presented, in order to judge whether a wildcat migration can be expected from our neighbouring countries. Results show that in the last three years knowledge about wildcats in Austria has improved significantly. The number of sites of discovery increased from 23 to 128 between 1960 and 2012. The province with the most indications of the presence of wildcats is Lower Austria. The three regions most likely to provide suitable habitats for wildcats are the district of Hollabrunn (N™), the district of Wiener Neustadt Pernitz (N™) and the district of Oberpullendorf (BGLD). Further investigations are necessary to obtain certainty regarding the distribution and population status of wildcats in Austria.

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