3 w. ago
European wildcats could be seen again in England for first time in 100 years
Two-year study finds area of woodland in Devon to be ideal habitat to support a controlled release of the creaturesThe prospect of European wildcats prowling in south-west England has taken a leap forward after a two-year study concluded a reintroduction was feasible – and most local people were positive about the idea.Having been absent for more than a century, mid-Devon has been judged to have the right kind of habitat to support a population of Felis silvestris.The south-west contains enough woodland cover connected by other suitable habitat to support a sustainable wildcat population.Two surveys were conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter. In one, 71% of 1,000 people liked the idea of wildcat return. In the other, 83% of 1,425 who responded expressed positivity.Wildcats pose no significant risk to existing endangered wildlife populations such as bats and dormice. Wildcat diets concentrate on widespread commonly found species, with 75% of their prey consisting of sm...
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