The threat that domestic cats pose to wildlife has gained increased recognition by researchers and conservationists, in this study, we investigated the seasonal variability effects of environment type (rural vs. urban) on prey composition free-ranging house Poland. We analysed 307 monthly samples different items killed brought their owners (i.e., home living one month) between 2002 2007 at 26 rural urban sites. over time was using additive models canonical correspondence analysis. In total,...

Examples of interspecific interactions have been described for mammalian predators, but less is known regarding disturbances native predator guilds by domestic predators. We investigated intraguild among three opportunistic predators (dog ( Canis lupus familiaris L., 1758), cat Felis catus and red fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) co-occurring in the extensive farmlands central Poland. Their space use was monitored using tracking stations distributed field forest plots along a distance gradient...

Abstract Studies of cat trophic behaviour can be based on collections the prey brought home or eaten by cats (i.e. analyses scat/gut contents). Both methods involve biases with respect to palatability, size and assessment hunting rates. Furthermore, these are often used different groups house‐based vs. feral), thus results difficult compare. In present study, from same area (rural areas in central P oland) were studied both methods: (scat gut analyses). identified mammals as most frequent...

We estimated the predation rate by free ranging domestic cats on vertebrates in rural areas of central Poland. performed a door-to-door survey number owned and type food provided combined results with previous data cats' diet composition, different methods (prey-brought-home prey-eaten). With help simulations, we an average mammals birds killed single farm annually. 0.839 were kept each farm, 78.5% them fed leftovers. On average, from one brought home 16.4 3.0 annually, but ate 198.9 46.3...

Abstract Urban habitats differ from natural environments, however some predatory species have become established in cities across the globe. The aim of our study was to compare occurrence red fox and stone marten Warsaw during three time periods (1976–1978, 2005–2008, 2015–2021) different habitats. Generalized linear models were used show factors affecting density indices these two (i.e., frequency tracks each recorded snow tracking on transects). transects increased over explained by...

The aim of this study was to assess the density and diet composition freeranging dogs in Poland. conducted a field forest mosaic central part country years 2005–2011. free-ranging assessed during night counts along repeated transect routes. number seen feasible observation area were recorded calculate index for each control. day captured data on group penetration range. Diets studied through scat analyses. dog ranged from 2.2–3.1 ind. km-2 depending area. Most observed alone, 40% formed...

Abstract The total length of railways worldwide exceeds 1 million kilometres and recent railway development directly impacts wildlife because animal‐train collisions. Few studies, however, have analysed factors driving ungulate‐train We over 3,500 collisions including roe deer, red wild boar, moose collected in 2012–2015 Poland. compared train traffic characteristics (e.g. intensity, speed, rail curvature), land‐use habitat share forests build‐up areas) local ungulate population densities at...

The red fox is one of the most adaptable carnivores inhabiting cities. aim our study was to describe process Warsaw colonization by fox. We focused on: (1) distribution in on basis presence-absence data (2005-2012) over a grid 1 × km2, (2) settlement 29 green areas (study periods 1976-1978, 2004-2012, and 2016-2019) relation habitat type, (3) temporal spatial patterns incidents (1998-2015) reported citizens. found out that: penetrated whole city (i.e. its presence confirmed all squares...

Fallow deer is one of the most widespread alien mammals in Europe. We documented response roe population shortly after fallow was introduced to a hunting ground central Poland. Mean density dropped from 17.6 ind./100 ha 10.5 species introduced. In reference area, where absent, did not change analogue study period. At both sites, mean productivity before introduction similar (1.6 juv./female). However, first 1.4, while it slightly increased 1.75. The presence influenced space use negatively,...

Abstract Red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ) successfully inhabit cities, utilize urban structures and adapt to alternative food sources such as supplemental anthropogenic feeding. Here, we compared two populations: one in a busy park another an forest. The first was expected be highly influenced by human presence (and delivered visitors), the other hypothesized unaffected disturbance. Our goal determine how they differed terms of spatial organization, behaviour habits. populations were...

Brown hares originated in the open steppe grasslands of Eurasia and have adapted very successfully to a mixed, arable agriculture environment. In last decades 20th century, decline brown hare populations has been observed many European countries. this study, we documented long-term (1965–2018) population field forest mosaic central Poland (from over 30 ind./100 ha mid-1960s 1–2 past decade). We showed that recent autumn densities were same as compared preceding spring (suggesting low...

The red squirrel is among the mammals that have adjusted well to urban habitats. Here, we focused on two populations inhabiting Warsaw: in a park (with year-round supplemental feeding) and an forest. We hypothesised squirrels would higher body mass (and better condition), being more stable over year, breeding rate (i.e., share of females). Contrary our hypothesis, forest were heavier had condition than squirrels. masses from both areas quite highest values obtained spring). Females...

ABSTRACT The development and modernization of railway infrastructures in many countries has increased the frequency wildlife‐train collisions. Our objective was to describe temporal pattern train accidents related wild ungulates (i.e., roe deer [ Capreolus capreolus ], red Cervus elaphus moose Alces alces boar Sus scrofa ]) determine when risk collision is highest. We gathered data on collisions with throughout Poland between 2012 2015 from Polish Railways Polskie Koleje Państwowe SA. used...

In order to estimate small mammal diversity in Warsaw we analysed pellets of tawny owls inhabiting green areas. Altogether found 21 species mammals (9 the city centre and 19 on outskirts). central zone largest share was comprised striped field mouse, house mouse rats, while connected forest open areas dominated outskirts.

In order to minimize human–wildlife conflicts, long-term and data-based management plans need be developed. We aimed at assessing wild boar (Sus scrofa, Linnaeus, 1758) density within selected areas of Warsaw, the capital city Poland. Wild abundance was estimated based on snow tracking conducted 19 well-defined sectors, varying in habitat structure location city. Moreover, two forest reserves, population assessed with use camera traps a random encounter model. The index (n tracks/100 m/24 h)...

Our aim was to determine dynamics in a population of tawny owls Strix aluco over 15-year period, relation year-to-year variation environmental conditions. The research carried out habitat mosaic fields and forest central Poland, the 2004–2018 period. Numbers pairs (territories) were established by standard playback survey technique supplemented searches for nest sites. selected factors studied parallel acorn production, density changes field rodents, meteorological conditions winter martens...

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe how the diet tawny owl changed along an urbanisation gradient. research conducted from 2003 2011 in central Poland. Pellets were collected following zones: center Warsaw, capital city Poland (inhabited by approximately 2 million people), its outskirts and rural areas beyond city. To investigate differences percentages main groups prey between three zones, a redundancy analysis (RDA) method implemented using CANOCO software. Sparrows, rats, pine...

Common buzzard is the most abundant bird of prey in Europe, and its population has undergone serious changes. In this study, we focused on a Central Poland (study area 105 km2, forests around 24 seven forest complexes) to analyze how certain environmental factors influenced abundance, breeding parameters, diet composition. The study was undertaken from 2011 2018, results were compared with data two periods (1982–1992; 2001–2003). Current density 3.5 pairs/10 km2 total 14.3 forested area, it...

Preliminary research conducted in Warsaw the 1970s and 2000s showed that roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) stayed forest habitat avoided anthropogenic areas. Activity exploration patterns of animals are shaped by indices disturbances, elevated large cities. The aims study were (1) to compare presence natural habitats during three periods: 1976–1978, 2005–2008 2017–2021, based on snow tracking transect routes (681.2 km total), (2) describe activity relation human disturbances selected urban...

The aim o f the study w as inventory m am als in vicinity Rogów.In years 2 0 -2 1 ost standard ethods for such explorations ere used (i.e.live-trapping, pellet analyses, tracking).Additionally, literature data, ell unpublished analysed.Another source inform ation collection ounted Forest and W ood M useum Rogów.A ltogether, 51 from 7 orders recorded.This included alien species (m uskrat, brow n rat, eastern house mouse, rabbit, A erican mink, raccoon dog, fallow deer).Another tw...