Feral Cats in the Tall Forests of Far East Gippsland, Australia

摘要: Author(s): Buckmaster, Tony; Dickman, Christopher R. | Abstract: Much of the research on feral cats in Australia has occurred continent’s arid and semi-arid regions. Consequently, little is known about ecology tall forests. Using a combination both VHF ‘store board’ GPS collars, were tracked forests Far East Gippsland, Victoria, to investigate home range size movement patterns. The use collars obtain accurate high volumes location data allowed intra-home movements be examined ways not previously possible using conventional radio telemetry. Male had significantly larger ranges (MCP 100, mean ± se: 455 126 ha) than females (105 28 ha). overlapped those female with neighbouring females. Overlaps ranges, particular core areas, indicate that Gippsland are tolerant other do actively exclude them. Feral these productive have smaller regions where food resources sparse or limited, but inhabiting farmland grassland habitats generally more abundant. Location gathered at three different temporal intervals – 6 hourly, every 15 minutes, showed utilise Levy walk-style searching pattern as they move through their range. Employing walk increases likelihood encountering prey items distributed sparsely environment, turn maximising potential hunting return for effort expended. These findings will allow managers adopt targeted approach when undertaking cat management programs by providing information deploy traps, baits control measures.