Due to the ecological changes and imbalance in their natural habitat, capybaras have been found in both urban and rural areas in Brazil, which may favor the transmission of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Furthermore, in the northeastern region, there are no studies about the pathogens of free-ranging capybaras. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the role of capybaras as bioindicators

Small mammals, such as small rodents (Rodentia: Muroidea) and shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae), present particular challenges in camera trap surveys. Their size is often insufficient to trigger infra-red sensors, whilst resultant images may be of inadequate quality for species identification. The conventional survey method for small mammals, live-trapping, can be both labour-intensive and detrimental

In species with explosive breeding strategies, large numbers of individuals may congregate at a defined location for a very short period of time. Effective synchronisation in arrival at breeding sites is crucial to ensure mating success. Amphibians with explosive breeding strategies often congregate at ponds for only a few days or weeks a year. Previous research has shown that frogs and toads may use

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is one of the largest carnivores within forest and grassland ecosystems across Africa and Asia and is currently threatened throughout its range. In this short report, we studied hyena presence between 1995 and 2018 in Nepal, via literature and field questionnaire surveys. Our results indicate that hyena distribution has significantly decreased in recent years, especially

The provision of predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS) to urban wildlife has been recognized as an important trophic input in urban ecosystems. However, there is a lack of agreement about the benefits and harms of urban PAFS for avian species. While there are many studies about the impact of PAFS on birds, little information is available about the potential importance of PAFS on the ecology

European badgers’ behaviors have been studied over a 6-year period (2013–2018) using camera traps settled in a main sett (400 m2; 17 holes) in an oak forest, northeastern France. I analyzed group’s size, grooming, digging, bedding collecting, mating, and the emergence and return times. The burrow was inhabited by 2.8 (± 1.2) badgers. I observed between 2 and 4 new cubs each year in 5 out of 6 years

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV) are vector-borne orbiviruses affecting ranched and wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America. Currently, limited data exist on EHDV and BTV transmission dynamics in ranched and wild herds. To identify long-term site-specific EHDV and BTV intervention strategies (e.g., integrated pest or animal husbandry management)

The eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a North American tree squirrel species which has been introduced to several countries outside its native range. We made use of squirrels culled in Italy within control activities to establish hematological reference intervals for this invasive species, with the aim to broaden the current knowledge about its physiology. Blood from 104 individuals was

Fish stocking is commonly used to enhance recreational fisheries; however, the side effects of stocking at the ecosystem scale have rarely been tested. Avian predators, because of their high position in food webs, can serve as indicators of environmental change, including prey-species abundance. The scope of this study was to understand whether recent changes in northern pike (Esox lucius) stocking

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations are expanding across Europe, which leads to an increase in their interactions with people and domestic animals, including dogs. Attacks on hunting dogs are becoming a major cause for conflicts between wolves and hunters in many countries, including Croatia, where this conflict has increased dramatically in recent years. To better understand the conflict and possible

It was thought by the author of the present study that if both automatic cameras and LARS were used, instead of one or the other, then it would be possible to efficiently gain knowledge that could be applied in the strategic management of deer in wetlands. In the Mizorogaike wetland, deer (Cervus nippon) graze plants throughout its entire area. Aerial images taken in the winter were used in the deer

The use of non-invasively collected DNA source material for genetic and genomic applications is usually characterized by low target DNA concentration and quality, genotyping errors and cost-intensive lab procedures. However, for otters (Lutrinae) as elusive species of conservation concern, genetic non-invasive sampling has become an important tool to study their ecology and demography. To increase

Near-natural or semi-natural forests such as relatively undisturbed and old deciduous or mixed woodland are considered worth protecting and ecologically valuable habitats for bat conservation. In contrast, mono-specific forest plantations are considered ecologically less valuable; thus, decision-makers recommend these plantations as suitable locations for wind power stations and therefore want to further

Hematological and serum biochemical reference values for 33 free-ranging sambar deer following immobilization with medetomidine (70–100 μgkg−1) and ketamine (1–2 mgkg−1) in Sariska Tiger Reserve in India were established and the differences across sex and age group were compared. Hematological and biochemical variables across different age-classes for red blood cell count, eosinophils, mean corpuscular

The European beaver (Castor fiber) has extended its range into most Central European countries over the past 30 years, resulting in increased forestry damage and water management issues. As the number of beavers increases populations become established in new types of habitat. In the Czech Republic, for example, established beaver populations are now found on rivers flowing through agricultural landscapes

Growing global evidence demonstrates that not only the invasion of alien species has imposed serious threats to native biodiversity, but it also threatens health and economics. The raccoon (Procyon lotor), medium-sized mammal, native to North America, as a result of escapes or deliberate introductions in the mid-twentieth century, is now distributed across much of mainland Europe and the Caucasus and

Identifying the most appropriate bait for a camera trap study is an important step in sampling design, as some baits may perform better than others in attracting different animal species. In this study, we compare the vertebrate communities detected using five different widely used baits (i.e., fruit, sardines, valerian extract, a mix of sweet fruits and peanut butter, and a combination of valerian

In Indonesia, the songbird trade is causing serious declines in many native species. Much of this trade is unregulated or illegal but nevertheless occurs openly in physical wildlife markets and online. Here, we report on the trade in a once common songbird, the Sunda laughingthrush (Garrulax palliatus), using compiled market data from 365 bird market surveys across a 30-year period. We found a total

Feeding of wild Asian elephants at the Udawalawe National Park perimeter electric fence by the general public is longstanding. We monitored the elephants and feeding activities, and conducted questionnaire surveys of stakeholders. Over 50 individual adult male elephants engaged in the activity. The exclusive male presence was consistent with a high-risk high-gain male strategy. The elephants were mostly

Domestic goats represent an important resource for rural human communities in tropical dry regions of Latin America. Management of this species in extensive systems is a common practice in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR) in Mexico. We analyzed the spatial and temporal variation of movements associated with the foraging behavior of goats in the TCBR. In order to determine the foraging

Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat modifications and machines, are associated with increased levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in mammals, an indicator of a stress response. One human-caused process provoking incisive habitat alterations is harvesting arable crops. We investigated the effect of cereal harvest on fGCM concentrations in European hares (Lepus europaeus) in arable

Following severe population decline and local extinction due to massive habitat destruction and persecution, wildcats have recently reappeared in several parts of Germany’s low mountain region. It remains unknown how this reemergence occurred, specifically if local populations have been overlooked at low densities or if the species has successfully spread across the highly fragmented anthropogenic

One of the most common wildlife crimes involving birds worldwide is malicious poisoning. Post-mortem examination and toxicological analysis are essential for a proper diagnosis of the cause of the poisoning. However, investigators often require an estimate of the time of death, which is best determined by identifying the stage of carcass decomposition. The aim of this article is to propose a scoring

There is a large demand for bear parts in the Czech Republic, and this drives legal and illegal trade in various bear species sourced from outside the country. From 2010 to 2018, the Czech Republic reported legal imports of 495 bear parts, mostly as trophies from Canada and Russia. Illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives for medicine as well as trophies persists as evidenced by the number of seizures

Individual age is an important element in models of population demographics, but the limitations of the methods used for age determination are not always clear. We used known-age data from moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of age estimated

Roads are one of the most severe threats to wildlife globally because of their pervasive and linear nature. Despite considerable attention afforded to road-effects on animals generally, little information is available concerning the specific impacts of road widening, also known as twinning or highway expansion. To address this gap, we monitored the abundance and distribution of large mammals adjacent

For the first author, the given and family name are mixed up.

Productivity (offspring production) is a key demographic parameter influencing population dynamics, particularly in r-strategy species, and thus critical for implementing well-based management of populations. Accordingly, the study of factors influencing productivity is useful to develop management strategies in species of conservation concern or subject to exploitation. We studied productivity (covey

Movement ecology is fundamental to understanding animal home ranges or utilization distribution (UD), and is an important aspect in conservation management strategies. Over the years, there have been several new developments and some contention on which methods are best in determining animal movement and UD. Using data from Global Positioning System (GPS)-tracked Sumatran elephants, minimum convex

Most European ungulate species are increasing in numbers and expanding their range. For the management and monitoring of these species, 64% of European countries rely on indirect proxies of abundance (e.g., hunting bag statistics). With increasing ungulate numbers, data on ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC) may provide an important and inexpensive, complementary data source. Currently, it is unclear

The Srebarna lake, near the Danube River, Bulgaria, is a key site for biodiversity, specifically for ornithofauna. Thus, it has been designated as a managed nature reserve, a biosphere reserve, a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area and Natura 2000 sites. Srebarna (and recently Persina Island) hosts the only breeding colonies of the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) in Bulgaria, assessed as critically

In recent years, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria have been isolated from different wildlife species that have not been exposed to antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance profile analysis of wildlife-derived Escherichia coli is one of the ways to obtain information about changes in wildlife habitats. The Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) is one of the Japanese endemic wildlife species that requires

This study examines the habitat selection of grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and the effect of habitat type within partridge home ranges on nest site choice and nest success. Data were collected via radio-tracking in three different areas in the Czech Republic between 2002 and 2010. Compositional analysis was performed on 12 habitat types and uncultivated habitats (such as ruderals, field margins and

Large carnivore populations have suffered declines worldwide. For the African continent, these have been particularly strong in West and Central Africa. The Bénoué Complex in North Cameroon, located in Central Africa, is a key landscape for their conservation. We determined spatiotemporal trends in lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) abundance, using

To improve mitigation planning on railways, it is crucial to accurately assess the number of fatalities resulting from this type of infrastructure. To illustrate the relevance of considering the two main errors from the sampling process (searcher efficiency and carcass persistence), we corrected the estimation of mammal fatalities (> 1 kg) on a 750-km railway located in the Brazilian Savanna accounting

In October of 2018, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Pearson International Airport in Toronto notified the Wildlife Enforcement Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada that a passenger had arrived aboard a flight from Russia with a large quantity of live leeches. The leeches had been discovered in the passenger’s carry-on luggage. An enforcement officer with Environment and Climate Change

Wildlife crossing structures (WCSs) enhance connectivity between habitats of wild animals fragmented by fenced motorways, but factors affecting their use by targeted species remain understudied, particularly in areas recently recolonized by large carnivores. We investigated the use of WCS—6 overpasses (width 30-45m), 5 large underpasses (width 33–114 m) and 4 small underpasses (width 15–19 m)—located

In the Netherlands, breeding populations of wader meadow birds are in sharp decline. One possible cause is that breeding areas are becoming less open because of tall trees and other factors. The effects of tree lines are generally studied by means of transversal studies spanning a short period of time. We report on a longitudinal field study from 1993 to 2010 into the breeding densities of Eurasian

Understanding whether people view non-native species as belonging in a place will help guide important conservation efforts ranging from eradications of exotics to re-introduction of extirpated species. In this manuscript we describe the degree to which Swedish hunters perceive key wildlife species as belonging in Swedish nature. We surveyed 2014 Swedish hunters randomly selected from a database of

Caching behavior consists on the relocation or storage of food to protect it from competitors, to delay food spoilage, or to exploit it during times of scarcity. While this behavior has been widely described for some medium and large-sized felids, only a few cases documented caching behavior in small felids. Here, we provide the first exhaustive description of a caching event on a European wildcat

The population of wild boar has rapidly increased over the past decades in many environments. Climate changes, changes in agricultural policy orientation, and, for example, insufficient hunting and predation pressure on the wild boar have made it one of the key species of the 21st century in Europe. Currently, the biggest threat related to the distribution and abundance increasing of wild boar in Europe

The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. In this context, it is important to explore the factors affecting its abundance and the ways in which it can be effectively managed for conservation. This study compares the distribution of this dove in Spain and Morocco. These countries, which are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar, are each occupied by a different

In recent years, hunters in Poland have faced a low level of social acceptance. Scientists from the USA and Sweden have demonstrated that contact with hunters and game meat consumption is one of the decisive factors affecting the social acceptance of hunting. The aim of our study was to examine attitudes towards hunting (ATH) held by the non-hunting part of Polish society and to analyse factors influencing

Cryptic mammals with semi-aquatic habits, like otters, are notoriously difficult to study. Elusive behaviour, low population density, nocturnal habits and the type of continental habitat that characterize this group of species make the estimation of their population density an arduous task. Passive infrared-triggered camera devices are a non-invasive methodology that may present key advantages for

Knowledge of the factors influencing variation of nest abundance in cities is a major topic in urban ecology with important management and planning implications. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to white stork (WS) (Ciconia ciconia) in the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Here, we used data on a series of topographic, anthropogenic, and landscape variables to identify

For migratory birds, sustainable harvest management based on quantitative modelling needs cross-border hunting bag statistics. At the European scale, proper modelling requires both reliable and mutually compatible hunting bag data between regions and countries. Owing to the absence of harmonisation among the different hunting bag collecting schemes in Europe and the lack of methodological metadata

Wildlife corridors are a policy tool to maintain or restore connectivity through human-modified landscapes. While corridors have been an important concept in wildlife conservation for decades, there is little evidence to guide their design. Specifically, width is one of the most contentious dimensions of corridors because it often limits industrial, residential, or recreational expansion. Building

The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) has a wide Holarctic geographical range, within which its status changes locally from threatened to abundant. For the correct management of populations under differing scenarios, accurate and precise estimates of bird abundances and/or densities are required. We used geolocated datasets from 56 counts of singing males carried out in 2003–2017 to estimate the density

The primary cause of the long-term decline in European hares’ (Lepus europaeus) population throughout Europe is widely assumed to be the intensification of agriculture. A critical component in this population dynamics is seen in the survival of leverets from birth to reproductive age. In European hares, the first stage of life until weaning has been sparsely studied, in particular habitat selection

The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon L.) is a medium-size carnivore widely distributed in Africa and in a small part of southern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, where mongoose populations have recently expanded. The mongoose is relatively easily detectable because of its diurnal habits and because it is the only species of Herpestidae occurring in the Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, its distribution

The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is an important game species throughout Europe. In Italy, for preventing the introduction of allochthonous strains, the management of brown hare populations has focused on the establishment of small protected areas (ZRCs), appositely managed for disposing of wild-born hares for restocking hunting territories. We investigated the effects of both land cover and

Global climate change is a threat to the persistence of many species, particularly those that may experience climate-induced habitat loss, have limited dispersal ability, and a narrow ecological breadth. The collared pika (Ochotona collaris) is a small, cold-adapted mammal that meets these criteria. For species that are particularly vulnerable to climate warming, such as collared pika, conservation

The use of camera traps is a nonintrusive monitoring method to obtain valuable information about the appearance and behavior of wild animals. However, each study generates thousands of pictures and extracting information remains mostly an expensive, time-consuming manual task. Nevertheless, image recognition and analyzing technologies combined with machine learning algorithms, particularly deep learning

Information about bat migration routes across the Alps is generally scarce and there is no existing data available for the Italian part of the chain. Through acoustic surveys, we explored the possibility that even a region characterized by high Alpine mountains may be crossed by migrant bats. Data were recorded in August–September 2016 at two sites located near mountain passes in the Aosta Valley (NW

Amphibians, especially salamanders, are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their narrow dispersal abilities and strong dependence on water. In this study, we assessed the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of the Algerian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles nebulosus), a salamander species endemic of Algeria and Tunisia. Using the software “Maxent”, we predicted current and

Estimates of population density are crucial for wild felid conservation and are commonly conducted using camera trapping. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SCR) survey designs often use two cameras per station to photograph both flanks of a spotted felid to confirm identities. However, if the sampling grid is inadequate, and detector devices are unable to capture an animal’s complete movements

We analyzed data from traffic counters installed on 143 Czech roads (motorways and primary roads) which precisely indicated current traffic volume during occurrences of ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC). One thousand nine hundred ninety-five UVCs were identified over the period 2009–2015 on these 143 road segments. The overall range of annual average daily traffic (AADT) values, for the respective

Ungulates (mainly Cervidae and wild boar Sus scrofa) are considered among the most problematic wildlife suffering on roads and causing the largest material losses due to high densities of ungulate populations, spatial and temporal movement patterns, and body size of these animals. Roe deer–vehicle collision (RDVC) as the most usual cause of ungulate fatality on roads may be applied as an appropriate

Diet is important for understanding the ecology and evolution of populations. When examining animals’ diets, the lowest taxonomic rank (i.e., species level) is generally used. However, it is questionable whether dietary description varies with respect to the plant taxonomy or with the extent of plant species diversity in landscapes. We studied the diet of the Alpine mountain hare (Lepus timidus varronis)

Faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) analysis is a reliable non-invasive method used in field endocrinology studies to assess levels of stress in animals. It is known that weather and, above all, humidity, can affect FCM concentrations in faecal samples. In addition, the prolonged storage of samples and delay in their analysis may alter metabolite concentrations. Intrinsic factors such as the heterogeneous