A medium-sized mammals selection as food diet for pup performed by adult wolves has been previously hypothesized. In this work the diet of wolf pups living in an anthropic area in Italy has been investigated to assess which prey potentially played a key role in their sustenance. Although wild ungulates were the main prey category for both pups and adults a significantly high occurrence of medium-size mammals (hare and coypu) and birds in pup diet has been recorded. Such result could confirm a selective food provision by adult wolves. Further investigations to assess the importance of this kind of prey for pup survival are desirable.
Pup feeding habits of a mixed wolf-hybrid pack living in a human-modified landscape in Central Italy
Di Rosso A.Primo
;Boni C. B.;Baldanti S.;Casini L.;Coppola F.
;Felicioli A.Ultimo
2023-01-01
Abstract
A medium-sized mammals selection as food diet for pup performed by adult wolves has been previously hypothesized. In this work the diet of wolf pups living in an anthropic area in Italy has been investigated to assess which prey potentially played a key role in their sustenance. Although wild ungulates were the main prey category for both pups and adults a significantly high occurrence of medium-size mammals (hare and coypu) and birds in pup diet has been recorded. Such result could confirm a selective food provision by adult wolves. Further investigations to assess the importance of this kind of prey for pup survival are desirable.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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