Demography and movements of free-ranging domestic cats in rural Illinois

摘要: Free-ranging domestic cats on farmsteads were censused annually in August 1977-81 within a 5,182-ha area typical of the cash-grain region central Illinois. The estimated average number late summer was 326 (6.3/100 ha). Annual recruitment immature into population averaged 1.5/adult female. Survival beyond 3-5 years age rare; <1% survived 7 or more years. Eleven adult radio-monitored during 30-day period summer; four males ranged over larger areas (P < 0.01) than seven females (228 _ 100 ha and 112 + 21 ha, respectively). When not farmsteads, approximately 73% their radiolocation points (N = 1,227) edge linear configurations cover. Cats made disproportionately high 0.05) use perimeters, roadsides, field interfaces low fields corn soybeans. Domestic well fed by humans but routinely deposited prey at residences. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 49(2):340-346 In Illinois, as elsewhere Midwest, there is little information concerning size structure free-ranging potential significance these felines to wildlife populations. Consequently, cat populations studied rural eastcentral Illinois from 1977 1981 determine: (1) demography This content downloaded 157.55.39.110 Sat, 24 Sep 2016 05:59:49 UTC All subject http://about.jstor.org/terms Wildl. Manage. 49(2):1985 FARM CATS * Warner 341 associated with residences; (2) feeding behavior cats; (3) range cover sample cats. W. R. Edwards G. C. Sanderson, I11. Nat. Hist. Surv. (INHS), A. Moak F. Hubert, Jr., Ill. Dep. Conserv., provided technical editorial assistance. L. P. Hansen Larkin (INHS) also read first draft manuscript. Valuable assistance student interns Eastern Univ. assistants INHS. work contribution, part, Fed. Aid Restoration Proj. W-66-R, Surv., Conserv. (IDOC), U.S. Fish Serv. (USFWS), cooperating. IDOC USFWS have no responsibility for form data this report conclusions reached.