Summary
Research on feral cats (Felis catus) in Isla Socorro, part of the UNESCO-listed Revillagigedo Archipelago, reveals critical insights for their eradication to protect local biodiversity. Analysis of stomach contents from 79 cats showed their diet primarily consisted of domestic mice (22.16%), endemic lizards (Urosaurus auriculatus, 15.09%), anthropogenic waste (15.09%), and insects (Orthoptera, 13.20%). Telemetry tracking of four cats using GPS/VHF collars further uncovered significant differences in home range sizes: males averaged 219.10 hectares, while females averaged 118.86 hectares. These findings are pivotal for planning effective eradication efforts, as they inform the required trapping density and bait distribution to minimize environmental impact during ongoing conservation actions.
Citation
Ortiz-Alcaraz, A., Arnaud, G., Aguirre-Muñoz, A., Galina Tessaro, P., Méndez-Sánchez, F., & Ortega-Rubio, A. (2018). Dieta y ámbito hogareño del gato feral, Felis catus (Carnivora: Felidae) en la Isla Socorro, Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, México. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (N.S.), 33(3), 482–489. https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2017.3331149