Abstract

ORTIZ-ALCARAZ, Antonio et al. Diet and home-range of the feral cat, Felis catus (Carnivora: Felidae) on Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2017, vol.33, n.3, pp.482-489. ISSN 2448-8445.

Socorro is an oceanic island rich in biodiversity and endemisms. However, the island has been threatened by feral cats since 1957. The diet of this predator, determined through the analysis of stomach contents of 79 cats, consisted mostly of house mice (Mus musculus, 22.16%), endemic lizards (Urosaurus auriculatus, 15.09%), anthropogenic rubbish (15.09%), and insects (Orthoptera, 13.20%). The home range of the feral cat was identified through telemetry using four individuals with GPS/VHF radio-collars. The three males had a much larger average home range of 219.10 ha, as compared with 118.86 ha of the female. Knowing the home range of the Socorro Island feral cat is critical for the successful eradication of the island's invasive population. Thanks to this information, it is possible to calculate the trapping effort and the amount of bait needed per unit area to successfully carry out the ongoing eradication, contributing to the conservation of global biodiversity.

Keywords : diet; Felis catus; feral cats; home range; Socorro Island.

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