The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is a relatively common, small felid ranging throughout Asia. During the past 15 years the natural history of leopard cats has been the topic of five studies; however, the mean sample size of study animals has been low (x = 6.8, range 4-10). We report on the most comprehensive study of leopard cats to date. Between June 1999 and February 2003, 20 leopard cats (14 males and six females) were radio-collared and tracked from 3 to 20 months in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Spatial organization of the leopard cats was characterized as weakly territorial with similar intrasexual range sizes and minimal seasonal variation. Mean (± SD) annual home-range (95% minimum convex polygon) size for males was 12.4 km 2 (n = 1211 locations, ± 7.1, range 2.2-28.9), whereas females exhibited a mean home-range size of 14 km 2 (n = 470, ± 12.2, range 4.4-37.1). Core area (50% minimum convex polygon) averaged 2.0 km 2 , and the mean 1-day movement was 1298 m (± 981, range 35-8653). Habitat use was generally in proportion to occurrence, and the mean activity (52%) was arrhythmic with crepuscular and nocturnal peaks. Analysis of scats indicated that murids dominated leopard cat diet.
Ineffective survey methods of carnivores limit the ability of managers and researchers to make sound research conclusions and management recommendations. Because bobcats (Lynx rufus) are individually identifiable due to their unique coat patterns, it may be possible to obtain density estimates using capture-recapture models. We photo-trapped bobcats on the 3,156-ha Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge in southern Texas from September 2000 through August 2001 to determine whether automatically triggered cameras could produce reliable estimates of bobcat density. Using the Schumacher-Eschmeyer estimator, we obtained an abundance estimate of 15 individuals (95% CI ¼ 13.6-16.7) from 56 bobcat photographs. Our estimate was comparable to bobcat densities previously reported on our study area. This technique has the potential to provide wildlife managers and researchers with reliable data on bobcat abundance not previously available without the expense of physical capture and radiotelemetry. Our relatively high photographic success might be attributable to the dense chaparral-type vegetation and the large network of travel pathways available on our study area. These methods may not be as successful in open areas or where bobcat travel is not predictable. We encourage replication of this technique elsewhere in bobcat range where density, vegetation, and travel pathways differ. (WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN 34(1): 69-73; 2006)
Survival and cause-specific mortality estimates are needed to develop effective conservation strategies for the endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the United States. We radiomonitored 80 ocelots (36 F, 44 M) from 1983 to 2002 and analyzed survival and cause-specific mortality rates. Pooled estimates of annual survival rates differed between resident (Ŝ = 0.87) and transient (Ŝ = 0.57) ocelots (P = 0.02); therefore, survival and cause-specific mortality analyses were partitioned for resident and transient ocelots. Sex-specific annual survival was similar between resident ocelots (M = 0.92, F = 0.83, P = 0.16) and transient ocelots (M = 0.53, F = 0.63, P = 0.75). Most mortalities were from human (e.g., ocelot-vehicle collisions; M = 45%) and natural (e.g., animal attack, disease; M = 35%) sources. Transient ocelots had higher natural mortality rates (disease, intraspecific mortality; M = 0.26) than resident ocelots (M = 0.04, P = 0.03). Other sources of mortality did not differ (P ≥ 0.10) between resident or transient ocelots or male and female resident or transient ocelots (P ≥ 0.08). Human population expansion within the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, USA, will increase transportation-related problems and decrease the quantity of ocelot habitat, leading to increased ocelot-vehicle collisions and possibly cause more transient behavior, thus significantly lowering ocelot survival. Research and development of ocelot road underpasses should be conducted to mitigate ocelot-vehicle collisions.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(1):255-263; 2005
The distribution of ocelots Leopardus pardalis in the USA is limited to southern Texas. Identification and monitoring of ocelot populations enables biologists to assess population health and status. Use of camera traps has been successfully used to monitor numerous populations of wild felids, including the ocelot. Our objectives were to identify ocelot presence within southern Texas and estimate ocelot population size and density. We used camera traps to survey for ocelots on four study sites in southern Texas. We recorded ocelot presence on one study site with an abundance estimate of three individuals and a density estimate of 0.30±SE 0.03 ocelots km−2. The conservation implications of this study suggest concentrating conservation efforts in and around the study site (Yturria Ranch) found to have ocelots. In addition, this study emphasizes the importance of including private landowners in the ocelot recovery process.
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is an endangered cat native to south Texas. Urbanization and agricultural development have resulted in limited and fragmented habitat, making ocelot habitat restoration an important factor in the cat's recovery. We evaluated the use of United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) soil surveys to identify potential restoration sites by examining ocelot habitat use in south Texas from [1982][1983][1984][1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990]. We analyzed an 8-year data set of ocelot radiotelemetry locations using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Bailey's confidence intervals. Ocelots selected habitat with dense (>95%) canopy cover more than open (<75%) canopy cover. Ocelots also selected Camargo, Lardeo, Olmito, and Point Isabel soil series in greater proportion than available. The selected soils also represented 82% of the selected dense canopy cover areas. Our results suggest that USDA-NRCS soil survey maps can be used as a tool for identifying potential areas for ocelot habitat restoration.
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