Settlement of a stable wolf pack in a highly anthropic area of Pisan hills: Relationship with animal husbandry and hunting in a human–wolf coexistence perspective

Abstract

Anthropic areas play a pivot role for main wolf conservation challenges. Wolf presence in the higher Pisan hills has been well documented while wolf settlement in the lower Pisan hills is still uncertain. In this study, long-term information on wolf presence in a highly anthropic area of the lower Pisan hills was collected by using noninvasive monitoring techniques. Furthermore, both the relationship of this predator with human activity and the impact of hunting on wolf presence have been investigated. The results obtained indicate the presence of a stable and reproductive wolf pack composed by both Italian wolf and hybrids individuals in the municipalities of Crespina Lorenzana and Casciana Terme Lari. A high impact of wolf on livestock was recorded in this area since no prevention systems were adopted by farmers. Wolf appears not to have a negative impact on wild boar population. Similarly, wild boar drive hunting does not appear to affect the wolf pack presence in the area. Thereby wolf may play a key role as controller of wild population. Prevention strategies improvement becomes instrumental to promote wolf-human coexistence. Further investigation to monitor pack hybridization level and turnover and to assess the impact of packs on wild population and livestock in anthropic areas is desirable.

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Parasite Survey in Anthropized and Natural Areas of Central Italy

“…The area is characterized by a highly anthropized fragmented agroecosystem in which small woody areas are interspersed with agricultural and urban zones [ 9 ]. A wide variety of wild mammals live in this area, such as crested porcupines ( Hystrix cristata ), wild boars ( Sus scrofa ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), pine martens ( Martes martes ), stone martens ( Martes foina ), skunks ( Mustela putorius ), badgers ( Meles meles ), hares ( Lepus europeus ), eastern cottontails ( Sylvilagus floridanus ), wild rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ), red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), wolves ( Canis lupus ), and the introduced invasive coypu ( Myocastor coypus ) [ 10 ].…”

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Taenia spp. parasites found in wildlife in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy (2017–2022)

“…A similar upward trend for wolfs happened in Italy, after a period of scarce number of packs in the country, as observed in the last census carried out by the Italian Institute for Protection and Research on Environment -ISPRA- ( La Morgia et al, 2022 ) ; according to the last report available, Italian wolves are estimated to be between 2945 and 3608 (95% confidence interval), occupying 41600 km 2 in the Alps and 108534 km 2 in the Apennines. Another noteworthy element is the ability to occupy anthropized areas, as recently described by Macchioni et al (2021) and Coppola et al (2022) .…”