Livestock predation is one of the major causes of conflicts between humans and pumas (Puma concolor). Using data from interviews with ranchers and kill-site inspections, we characterized puma–livestock conflicts in Villarino and Patagones counties of central Argentinean rangelands. Depredation was considered the major cause of livestock losses, and puma attacks were reported in 46.6% and 35.4% of ranches in Villarino and Patagones, respectively. The majority of ranches underwent losses smaller than 1000 USD. The proportion of livestock lost to predation (0.1–10.4%) and financial losses (5.3–1560.4 USD) per ranch/year varied across ranches, and small sheep ranches in Villarino were affected the most. Depredation was recorded only at night and preferentially in grassland with shrubs and cropland habitats. Although nocturnal enclosures appeared to decrease sheep losses, puma hunting was considered the most effective form of reducing depredation and was implemented by most ranchers. Mortality rates were 3.7 and 1.1–1.56 individuals/year × 100 km2 for sheep and pumas, respectively. Nocturnal fencing, shepherding and spatial separation from predators may efficiently reduce sheep losses. However, the poor association between the intensity of puma persecution and puma-related livestock losses suggests that conflict mitigation in central Argentina is not only about reducing damage but also about increasing tolerance.

Interviews with local people have been widely used by biologists as a cost-effective approach to studying certain topics in wildlife ecology and conservation. However, doubts still exist about the validity and quality of the information gathered, especially in studies targeting cryptic or elusive species, such as carnivores. We assessed the reliability of interviews (n = 155) in detecting the presence of three species of carnivores with different characteristics, by comparing interview results with data obtained through camera trapping surveys at 52 sites in central Argentina. The degree of concordance between methods was low for Geoffroy's cat Leopardus geoffroyi and especially for the puma Puma concolor. However, Geoffroy's cats were detected more frequently by camera traps than interviews, whereas the opposite was true for pumas. For the pampas fox Pseudalopex gymnocercus, a less elusive species, we observed a high degree of concordance and a similar probability of occurrence between methods. Our results indicate that data obtained by interviewing local inhabitants should be used with caution because the information about species presence provided by local people may be inaccurate and biased.

a b s t r a c tTo understand the activity and movement patterns of Leopardus geoffroyi, we compared its behavior by radio-tracking 10 individuals in two areas of the Pampas grassland of Argentina: Campos del Tuyú Wildlife Reserve (CdT; 2F, 2 M, n = 1753 activity fixes), and Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park (ETPP; 4F, 2 M, n = 1700 fixes), an area more strongly affected by human activities. The proportion of active fixes varied between areas and ranged from 38.4 ± 4.4% at CdT to 42.9 ± 8.1% at ETPP. In both areas, L. geoffroyi was mainly nocturnal, with maximum activity at 1:00 h (70.9%) at CdT and 4:00 h (75.6%) at ETPP. Activity patterns were highly correlated between areas and, within each area, between sexes, possibly in relation to the nocturnal activity of its major prey. Seasonal variations were detected, with the least diurnal and nocturnal activity in spring. In both study areas, Geoffroy's cats presented variations in the amount of nocturnal activity corresponding to differences in nocturnal luminosity. However, these variations were different: cats were most active when the night was brighter at CdT, whereas at ETPP activity was lower in brighter nights. At CdT, the linear distance of movement between locations averaged 685.8 ± 496.8 m and males moved 1.4 times farther than females. This distance was shorter at CdT than ETPP (1087.9 ± 932.8 m), where males had movements 4.5 times greater than females. The mean speed of travel did not differ between areas (CdT: 0.44 ± 0.45 km/h; ETPP: 0.44 ± 0.78 km/h), but males tended to move faster than females. In the grasslands of Argentina, human disturbance did not affect the patterns of activity of L. geoffroyi but cats appeared to be forced to spend more time active and move over greater distances in the more disturbed area.

This study examined the spatial ecology of Geoffroy ' s cats, Leopardus geoffroyi, living in a protected area surrounded by croplands in the Argentine grasslands. A total of six different adults were marked with 14 radio-collars from 2001 to 2005 but only three (one female and two males) produced a meaningful amount of data (54-135 positions). Total home range size was 8.83 ± 1.58 km 2 (100 % Minimum Convex Polygon) and 7.27 ± 2.23 km 2 (90 % Fixed Kernel). Core areas averaged 1.46 ± 0.84 km 2. Geoffroy ' s cats most frequently used Exotic Woodland areas followed by Rocky and Agricultural areas. All cats clearly avoided natural habitats and selected Exotic Woodland at the two levels of selection examined: within the study area and within home ranges. In our study area, Geoffroy ' s cats ' home ranges were larger than all those previously recorded in natural areas. The Geoffroy ' s cat preference for Exotic Wood patches and avoidance of natural grasslands was likely due to the degradation of natural habitats caused by a dense population of feral horses. We also argue that woodlands can play an important role in the ecology of this species, either as refuge, hunting area or for territorial marking, regardless of their origin.

We injected 27 adult Molina's hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga) intramuscularly by hand with ketamine hydrochloride (KH) and xylazine hydrochloride (XH) in the Pampas grassland of Argentina. Skunks were immobilized with a mean (±SD) dosage of 24.9±6.5 mg/kg KH and 1.9±0.6 mg/kg XH. The mean effective dosages of KH (27.6 mg/kg) and XH (1.7 mg/kg) were higher and lower, respectively, than those reported in skunks previously. Mean induction and recovery time were 5.3±1.9 min and 47.7±18.5 min, respectively. Hypothermia was the only problem detected in field immobilization and occurred in winter but did not appear to be associated with to drug doses. We conclude that KH/XH is a safe immobilizing drug combination for Molina's hog-nosed skunk.