Reintroduction of small game by hunters as an element of shaping biodiversity

Ochrona Srodowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych - Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

Abstract This study addresses the issue of small game populations, which have shown a significant decline in numbers over last decades. Populations hares, pheasants and partridges are subject to hunting management by hunters changing environmental legal conditions. Hunting individual species based on annual assessment their allows for optimizing activities regarding decisions shooting, limiting or suspending hunting, possible reintroduction animals areas where populations at risk. These also include planning intensifying fight against predators, one critical ecosystem elements influencing described species’ population dynamics. It should be noted that decade, involvement repopulation natural ecosystems with has decreased. is due both economic factors related operation clubs increasing fees as well cyclical difficulties. Nevertheless, no group other than been undertaking continuing initiatives many years. However, smaller scale, they perfectly line protection development biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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When pets go wild: Integrating DNA metabarcoding and morphological analyses to investigate the impacts of free-ranging cats (Felis catus) on oceanic islands

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 305, P. 111089 - 111089

Published: March 12, 2025

Language: Английский

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Consequências dos desastres naturais e evacuação de áreas acometidas no abandono animal: revisão de literatura

Caderno Pedagógico, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 22(6), P. e15252 - e15252

Published: April 1, 2025

Os desastres naturais e antrópicos, incluindo a subsidência do solo decorrente da mineração, causam impactos significativos tanto para comunidades humanas quanto fauna. Este estudo revisa literatura nacional internacional sobre os efeitos desses fenômenos, com ênfase na relação entre ambientais o abandono de cães gatos. Discute-se influência dos felinos caninos errantes biodiversidade, considerando sua participação predação espécies nativas, competição por recursos disseminação patógenos. Em seguida, analisam-se físicos psicológicos animais, abrangendo lesões, desnutrição, exposição agentes parasitários desenvolvimento distúrbios comportamentais, como ansiedade estresse pós-traumático. A revisão também explora realocação compulsória populações consequente animais domésticos, destacando suas implicações saúde pública bem-estar animal. Por fim, enfatiza-se necessidade inclusão em planos emergência estratégias resgate, recomendando-se medidas preventivas mitigatórias, tais campanhas educativas, infraestrutura adequada políticas públicas voltadas à proteção Conclui-se que adoção eficazes manejo contextos pode minimizar sociais, promovendo maior animal fortalecendo resiliência das afetadas.

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Planning and optimizing neutering programs for free‐roaming cat populations: An interactive tool for cost‐effective management in closed systems

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

Abstract The management of free‐roaming cat ( Felis catus ) populations is a complex eco‐sociological dilemma. Cats with outdoor access pose significant threats to wildlife through direct predation and indirect effects, leading some conservationists advocate for stringent control measures, including lethal methods managing unowned populations. However, public sentiment, alongside evidence that often lack long‐term efficacy cost‐effectiveness, supports the adoption non‐lethal methods, such as Trap‐Neuter‐Return (TNR). In certain European countries, TNR only legally permissible method. Despite its widespread adoption, limited understanding population dynamics, combined inadequate planning resource allocation, can lead ineffective outcomes, potentially exacerbating growth We used (both owned cats) on Linosa—a small Mediterranean island high biodiversity importance—as case study. Census data were collected over three consecutive years, Bayesian statistical model was developed estimate dynamics assess varying impacts neutering efforts time, extending analysis 60 months beyond latest census. also evaluated different budget scenarios based intensity applied. highlighted importance high‐frequency, female‐focused achieve cost efficiency. Additionally, it demonstrated in our study population, intensive improved precision estimates, thereby reducing uncertainty outcomes. To translate an accessible tool conservation planners, animal welfare organizations, policymakers, we interactive user‐friendly dashboard, available at https://boydorr.gla.ac.uk/lucanelli/Cats_PVA/ . This allows users customize by inputting initial estimates characteristics. Synthesis applications Our enables data‐driven programs, helping stakeholders optimize allocation improve approach enhances effectiveness be adapted similar closed systems, offering scalable solution balancing ecological societal concerns.

Language: Английский

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Bad dog? The environmental effects of owned dogs

Pacific Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(3)

Published: April 10, 2025

Dogs as owned pet animals are globally ubiquitous and numerous. While the impact of cats, both feral owned, on biodiversity has been relatively well-studied, by contrast, comparative effect dogs poorly acknowledged. As commonest large carnivore in world, environmental impacts extensive multifarious: they implicated direct killing disturbance multiple species, particularly shore birds, but also their mere presence, even when leashed, can disturb birds mammals, causing them to leave areas where exercised. Furthermore, scent traces urine faeces left continue have this not present. Faeces transfer zoonoses wildlife and, accumulated, pollute waterways plant growth. Owned that enter contribute toxic pollution through wash-off chemical ectoparasite treatment applications. Finally, sheer number contributes global carbon emissions land fresh water use via food industry. We argue is far greater, more insidious, concerning than generally recognised.

Language: Английский

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Attitudes towards predation by domestic cats in UK nature reserves differs between conservation researchers and conservation practitioners and is affected by cat ownership

Human Dimensions of Wildlife, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 16

Published: April 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Characteristics of cat semi-owners

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 25(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Objectives Unowned ‘stray’ domestic cats threaten wildlife, as well create a community nuisance and contribute to high rates of euthanasia in animal shelters. These can experience poor welfare, the pet cat population compromise attempts control feral cats. However, many unowned are cared for by semi-owners who do not consider they own these cats; therefore, potentially important target human behaviour change interventions. The present study aimed describe characteristics compare with general owners non-cat inform future management Methods An online questionnaire open all residents New South Wales, Australia was developed advertised. Respondents were asked ‘do you care other free-roaming or stray (not including own)?’, whether owned cats, about their home agreement 15 capability, social opportunity motivation (COM) items relating containment. Results Questionnaire responses received from 8708 people, 588 (7%). Semi-owners significantly more likely be female, live urban areas, lower socioeconomic areas rent home. Most also than non-semi-owners. Conclusions relevance valuable potential audience Understanding that often have might already overwhelmed cat-caring responsibilities disproportionately backgrounds should guide intervention design. A nuanced approach is needed prioritises wellbeing ‘buy in’. Any recognise face multiple, complex barriers neutering claiming ownership for, especially cost, trust authorities.

Language: Английский

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The role of species ecology in predicting Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in wild and domesticated mammals globally

PLoS Pathogens, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1), P. e1011908 - e1011908

Published: Jan. 10, 2024

Macroecological approaches can provide valuable insight into the epidemiology of globally distributed, multi-host pathogens. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan that infects any warm-blooded animal, including humans, in almost every habitat worldwide. its hosts through oocysts environment, carnivory tissue cysts within intermediate host prey and vertical transmission. These routes infection enable specific predictions regarding ecological life history traits should predispose taxa to higher exposure and, thus rates T . Using prevalence data compiled from 485 studies representing 533 free-ranging wild mammalian species, we examined how (habitat type, trophic level) (longevity, vagility, gestation duration torpor) influence globally. We also compared between domesticated species same taxonomic families using 540 domestic cattle, sheep, pigs. Across wildlife, found average was 22%, which comparable global human estimate. Among guilds, terrestrial had lower than aquatic with freshwater having an increased marine species. Dietary niches were influential, carnivores risk other feeding groups have reduced cyst their diet. With respect influential traits, more vagile wildlife rates, perhaps because cumulative during movement areas varying environmental loads. Domestic farmed confamilial Through macroecological approach, determined relative significance transmission generalist pathogen, demonstrating for carnivorous highlighting importance preventing pathogen pollution environments. increasingly understood be primarily anthropogenically-associated whose dissemination enhanced by ecosystem degradation subsidisation free-roaming cats. Adopting restoration approach reduce one world’s most common parasites would synergistically contribute initiatives conservation, feline welfare, climate change, food security public health.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal habitat selection and ranging of domestic cats (Felis catus) in rural and urban environments

Animal Biotelemetry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: May 20, 2024

Abstract Domestic cats ( Felis catus ) thrive at high densities alongside humans in urban and rural environments are responsible for excessive wildlife predation worldwide. As urbanisation farmland expands, domestic inevitably reach previously unoccupied habitats, management plans will rely on understanding cat ranging behaviours. Cat movements habitat selection may differ depending their surroundings, consequently, we sought to assess how male female behaviours varied during different seasons urban, suburban, environments. In cities the UK, location of 56 owned (26 F:30 M) was recorded every 5 min a total 5237 h using GPS collars (454 ± 25 fixes over c. 4 days per individual). Urban exhibited similar patterns home ranges, maximum distances travelled from owner’s house, selection, where they selected built-up areas with good cover avoided open spaces. Cats spent an average 75% time outside owners’ house or garden therefore had great potential encounter wild prey. Males were almost twice as active than other males but all crepuscular activity compared cathemeral diurnal females. summer, smaller ranges more nocturnal, poentially concentrating impacts around core hotter months. Similarities across urban–rural gradient suggest can be equally applied well farmland. Buffer exclusion zones 750 m protected would exclude 95% cats, specialised management, such periodic confinement specific periods, could prove effective vulnerable prey species’ breeding seasons. These findings improve our is affected by under seasonal variation, used tailor strategies new species populations exposed predation.

Language: Английский

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A conciliatory and persuasive social campaign changes owner behavior to reduce cats' hunting

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(7)

Published: June 29, 2024

Abstract Solutions to the cats‐hunting‐wildlife environmental conflict could benefit from social science approaches. Our Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire—informed by an elicitation survey cat owners at veterinary clinics about their attitudes, norms, and beliefs regarding bringing cats inside night—surveyed 158 across 20 veterinarian in four cities. It revealed that wildlife conservation was not influential on owner intention but veterinarians, safety, peers, household members were. Thus, we designed a marketing campaign with two treatments: (1) veterinarian/cat safety message or (2) social/family norm message. Thirty‐four received one posters served as control group. Customers ( n = 510) “cat welfare” then pamphlet advocated message, follow‐up email telephone 3–6 weeks later (69% response rate). Campaign messaging significantly increased number who reported night compared The most effective. Although rudimentary, generated measurable changes behavior. Conservation campaigns informed co‐benefits for may reduce cats' hunting be conciliatory ways transcending conflict.

Language: Английский

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