Who is the killer? Barking up the wrong tree

Abstract

In recent years, several cases of predation on hunting dogs have been reported in Italy. These cases caused uproar among owners and the wolf was singled out as the culprit. The remains of a dog allegedly killed by wolves were submitted for forensic analysis. Wolf predation was ruled out based on gross findings and wild boar aggression was suspected instead. Genetic analysis of salivary swab samples confirmed that wild boars fed on the dog. As poaching is one of the main threats to wolf conservation, it is essential to identify correctly the predator in cases of attacks on domestic animals.

Fox (Vulpes vulpes) involvement identified in a series of cat carcass mutilations

“…More recently in Edmonton, investigations into a spate of dismembered cats found the pattern of injury to be consistent with coyote scavenging. 20 In neither situation was DNA analysis performed on swabs from mutilated carcasses.…”

“…One recent case identified wild boar (Sus scrofa) as the killer of a hunting dog where wolves (Canis lupus) were first suspected of being responsible. 20 Chances of recovering DNA are higher if the carcass is fresh and the scavenger or predator spends more contact time with it, and decreases with time, excessive decomposition, or extreme weather conditions. 5,12,21 In the United Kingdom, two of the most common wild scavenger species are the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Eurasian badger (Meles meles).…”

Wolf–Hunting Dog Interactions in a Biodiversity Hot Spot Area in Northern Greece: Preliminary Assessment and Implications for Conservation in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park and Adjacent Areas

“…Apart from wolves, wild boar caused fatalities at a rate comparable to those by wolves, while injury rates were multiple times higher. Wild boar can kill and consume livestock [ 109 , 110 ], hunting dogs [ 52 ], or non-hunting dogs [ 111 ]. Μany unprovoked attacks on humans were associated with hunted or injured wild boar [ 112 ] and, in some cases, on accompanying dogs, perceiving them as potential predators and attacking them in defense [ 113 ], as they can alter their behavior as an effect of intensified hunting [ 114 ].…”

“…Μany unprovoked attacks on humans were associated with hunted or injured wild boar [ 112 ] and, in some cases, on accompanying dogs, perceiving them as potential predators and attacking them in defense [ 113 ], as they can alter their behavior as an effect of intensified hunting [ 114 ]. Given the opportunistic omnivorous diet of wild boar, which also scavenge οn mammal carcasses [ 115 , 116 ], these cases can perplex the issue of wolf–dog interactions, with responsibilities attributed falsely to wolves when lacking proper evidence on the predation event [ 52 ].…”

“…(a) Verified : (1) wolves were directly observed approaching, attacking, injuring, or killing a dog(s) and/or (2) observed close to the attack site and then characteristic wounds were evident on injured or killed dogs, like throat and neck bites or other paired incised or punctured wounds [ 52 ].…”