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Aim: Several large‐mammal species in Europe have recovered and recolonized parts of their historical ranges. Knowing where suitable habitat exists, and thus where range expansions are possible, is important for proactively promoting coexistence between people and large mammals in shared landscapes. We aimed to assess the opportunities and limitations for range expansions of Europe's two largest herbivores, the European bison (Bison bonasus) and moose (Alces alces). Location: Central Europe. Methods: We used large occurrence datasets from multiple populations and species distribution models to map environmentally suitable habitats for European bison and moose across Central Europe, and to assess human pressure inside the potential habitat. We then used circuit theory modeling to identify potential recolonization corridors. Results: We found widespread suitable habitats for both European bison (>120,000 km2) and moose (>244,000 km2), suggesting substantial potential for range expansions. However, much habitat was associated with high human pressure (37% and 43% for European bison and moose, respectively), particularly in the west of Central Europe. We identified a strong east–west gradient of decreasing connectivity, with major barriers likely limiting natural recolonization in many areas. Main conclusions: We identify major potential for restoring large herbivores and their functional roles in Europe's landscapes. However, we also highlight considerable challenges for conservation planning and wildlife management, including areas where recolonization likely leads to human–wildlife conflict and where barriers to movement prevent natural range expansion. Conservation measures restoring broad‐scale connectivity are needed in order to allow European bison and moose to recolonize their historical ranges. Finally, our analyses and maps indicate suitable but isolated habitat patches that are unlikely to be colonized but are candidate locations for reintroductions to establish reservoir populations. More generally, our work emphasizes that transboundary cooperation is needed for restoring large herbivores and their ecological roles, and to foster coexistence with people in Europe's landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Current trends of human population growth and landscape development in Europe suggest that wildlife impacts will increase. Traditional methods to mitigate these impacts, such as culling, can be ineffective, environmentally harmful and often publicly opposed. Contraceptives might be an alternative to culling. This review focuses on contraceptives for mammals and birds, currently registered or widely tested, which might be considered for European wildlife. The review describes the effects of contraceptives on reproduction and welfare, the methods and challenges of contraceptive administration to large numbers of animals, the potential cost and feasibility of using fertility control and the knowledge gaps in this area. Contexts and species for using contraceptives to reduce the impacts of European wildlife include small, isolated wildlife populations, charismatic species and situations in which lethal control is either illegal or publicly unacceptable, such as urban environments and national parks. The review provides guidance to assist decisions about the potential use of wildlife fertility control and lists eight main reasons for Europe to invest in this area, and particularly in developing oral contraceptives which will allow large-scale applications of wildlife fertility control. This would be crucial for Europe, where humans and wildlife are increasingly sharing space and resources. Trends of human population growth and landscape development in Europe show that wildlife impacts are escalating. Lethal methods, traditionally employed to mitigate these impacts, are often ineffective, environmentally hazardous and face increasing public opposition. Fertility control is advocated as a humane tool to mitigate these impacts. This review describes mammalian and avian wildlife contraceptives' effect on reproduction of individuals and populations, delivery methods, potential costs and feasibility of using fertility control in European contexts. These contexts include small, isolated wildlife populations and situations in which lethal control is either illegal or socially unacceptable, such as urban settings, national parks and areas where rewilding occurs. The review highlights knowledge gaps, such as impact of fertility control on recruitment, social and spatial behaviour and on target and non-target species, provides a decision framework to assist decisions about the potential use of wildlife fertility control, and suggests eight reasons for Europe to invest in this area. Although developing and registering contraceptives in Europe will have substantial costs, these are relatively small when compared to wildlife's economic and environmental impact. Developing safe and effective contraceptives will be essential if European countries want to meet public demand for methods to promote human–wildlife coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the advance of modern civilization, there has been intensive contact among large parts of the world. This has not only encouraged increased travel and trade, but has also led to the anthropogenic introduction of animal and plant species into new areas of settlement. Such neozoa (invasive species) encounter different and sometimes completely new environmental conditions, which requires the adaptation of the neozoa to their new habitat. Under certain circumstances, the neozoa may even have significant survival advantages, for example, if the prey–hunter constellation shifts in their favor. The North American raccoon (Procyon lotor) was introduced into Europe by intentional and accidental releases in the 20th century and spread throughout most of Europe in the following decades. The first release was in Germany, in Central Europe, which is still the distribution hotspot of the European raccoon. Over time, raccoons were released into the wild for hunting and subsequently spread. There have also been repeated unintentional releases of raccoons by breeders, fur farms, and private pet owners. These releases have accelerated the spread of the raccoon in Europe. The influence of the raccoon on the native fauna and flora has been insufficiently studied so far, but it seems to be only marginal according to current knowledge. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a North American half-bear that is present in much of Europe and Asia as a result of both accidental and planned releases. In Europe, raccoons were introduced primarily as a source of fur for the fur industry. In the 1930s, raccoons were released into the wild in Central Europe. At the same time, animals from fur farms and private holdings continued to enter the wild. In the following decades, the raccoon spread over large parts of Europe. In addition to the invasive spread of the Central European initial population, individual releases of raccoons occurred frequently, mainly in Southern Europe. The high adaptability of the raccoon favors its expansion into new habitats. It has a high reproductive rate, is very mobile, and encounters few predators in Europe. Raccoons have recently become a topic of interest when large raccoon populations have colonized suburban and urban areas. Despite the proximity of raccoons and humans, however, there have been hardly any conflicts to date, unlike in North America. A significant negative impact on the native fauna has been suspected but not proven. Raccoons have been identified as vectors of zoonotic diseases. Nevertheless, monitoring of the increasing numbers of raccoons in Europe seems advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the present ecological crisis, new approaches to environmental conservation and management are being developed in Europe. One of the axes considered by nature protection stakeholders since the 2000s is to encourage the return of the wilderness. This has led to the deployment of a variety of initiatives, mainly led by civil and non-profit organisations. The objective here, through the analysis of the discourses of stakeholders—from semi-directive interviews—and the initiatives developed in Western Europe, is to understand how the multitude of projects carried out throughout Europe constitutes a proposal for new environmental management practices. Indeed, the studied initiatives introduce a paradigm shift by reflecting a will to go beyond the mere preservation of nature in order to contribute to a global territorial transition. To this end, the studied projects propose to create both a social and interspecies link around their sites, but also to ensure the development of virtuous economic forms in the territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective hunting has various impacts that need to be considered for the conservation and management of harvested populations. The consequences of selective harvest have mostly been studied in trophy hunting and fishing, where selection of specific phenotypes is intentional. Recent studies, however, show that selection can also occur unintentionally. With at least 52 million birds harvested each year in Europe, it is particularly relevant to evaluate the selectivity of hunting on this taxon. Here, we considered 211,806 individuals belonging to 7 hunted bird species to study unintentional selectivity in harvest. Using linear mixed models, we compared morphological traits (mass, wing, and tarsus size) and body condition at the time of banding between birds that were subsequently recovered from hunting during the same year as their banding, and birds that were not recovered. We did not find any patterns showing systematic differences between recovery categories, among our model species, for the traits we studied. Moreover, when a difference existed between recovery categories, it was so small that its biological relevance can be challenged. Hunting of birds in Europe therefore does not show any form of strong selectivity on the morphological and physiological traits that we studied and should hence not lead to any change of these traits either by plastic or by evolutionary response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising numbers of wild ungulates in human‐dominated landscapes of Europe can induce negative effects like damages to forests. Therefore, effective wildlife management, including harvesting through hunting is becoming increasingly important. However, current hunting practices often fail to diminish those negative effects, as many ungulate species retreat to areas unsuitable for hunting. This predator–avoidance behaviour makes it difficult to fulfill the demand of reducing population numbers. Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative and effective wildlife management tools to counteract this problem. Here we provide for the first time a hunting suitability model for wild ungulate management in mountainous landscapes to visualise hunting suitability objectively and realistically. Using red deer as a model species, we modelled hunting suitability with high spatial resolution (10 × 10 m), based on remote sensing information, field surveys and expert knowledge of professional hunters. We analysed spatio–temporal habitat selection by radio‐collared deer in relation to locations of varying hunting suitability. The suitability of various locations regarding hunting influenced the spatio–temporal habitat selection by this species, consistent with our hypothesis. Red deer avoided areas suitable for hunting during daylight hours in the hunting season, but not during the night. This species seems to perceive a landscape of heterogeneous anthropogenic predation risk, shaped by locations of various hunting suitability, as we modelled it. This confirms the empirical realism of the model. Concerning wild ungulate management, our hunting suitability model provides high‐resolution predictions of where species like red deer will retreat when perceived anthropogenic predation risk increases. The model also yields useful insights regarding the hunting suitability of particular locations, which is valuable information especially for non‐locals. Furthermore, the model can serve as planning tool to inform decisions about where particular hunting strategies can be performed most efficiently to manage wild ungulates and therefore minimize human–wildlife conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population genetic studies provide accurate information on population structure, connectivity, and hybridization. These are key elements to identify units for conservation and define wildlife management strategies aimed to maintain and restore biodiversity. The Mediterranean island of Sardinia hosts one of the last autochthonous mouflon populations, descending from the wild Neolithic ancestor. The first mouflon arrived in Sardinia ~ 7000 years ago and thrived across the island until the twentieth century, when anthropogenic factors led to population fragmentation. We analysed the three main allopatric Sardinian mouflon sub-populations, namely: the native sub-populations of Montes Forest and Mount Tonneri, and the reintroduced sub-population of Mount Lerno. We investigated the spatial genetic structure of the Sardinian mouflon based on the parallel analysis of 14 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The Montes Forest sub-population was found to harbour the ancestral haplotype in the phylogeny of European mouflon. We detected high levels of relatedness in all the sub-populations and a mitochondrial signature of hybridization between the Mount Lerno sub-population and domestic sheep. Our findings provide useful insights to protect such an invaluable genetic heritage from the risk of genetic depletion by promoting controlled inter-population exchange and drawing informed repopulation plans sourcing from genetically pure mouflon stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of scats is a widespread non-invasive method in ecological studies of mammalian carnivores. However, their low detectability and the incorrect species assignment may be important sources of bias. We aimed to optimize the detection and identification of scats of Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), using the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a comparative model. Based on molecular identification of scats we assessed: (1) the accuracy of species morphological identification (Field-ID); (2) whether post-field laboratory analyses (FL-ID) improve Field-ID; (3) species-specific morphological differences of scats, and (4) whether specific field surveys increase the detectability of mongoose scats. Out of 175 collected scats, 81 were genetically identified. Field-ID accuracy was over 75.6% for the mongoose and over 45.0% for the red fox. Misidentified mongoose scats mainly belonged to stone marten (50.0%) while misidentified red fox scats mainly belonged to mongoose (63.6%). After applying FL-ID, accuracy increased to 93.1% for the Egyptian mongoose and 76.2% for the red fox. Morphological scat differences were only significant for the scat diameter, with red fox scats being significantly thicker than those of mongoose. More mongoose scats were found along ecotones (mean ± SE: 4.05 ± 1.45 scats/transect) than along trails and roads (0.05 ± 0.05 scats/transect), while red fox scats were found similarly in both transect types. The application of post-field analysis to scats and focusing the search along ecotones optimized both the identification accuracy and the detection probability of Egyptian mongoose scats, although searching for scats in other structures should not be discarded if the aim is the study of habitat use or selection by the species. Our results can be useful for scat identification in studies on this and other carnivore species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red deer is an important game species in Europe and of interest to ecotourism. However, as a major ecosystem engineer, red deer not only have positive effects on biodiversity, but also cause economic damage to managed forests and agriculture. Data obtained from effective and precise monitoring of red deer populations are therefore needed to provide a baseline for the establishment of adaptive management strategies that consider the interests of the different stakeholders. To date, counts of animals at winter feeding sites have been frequently used as an index of abundance. Because the proportion of red deer overwintering at feeding sites may correlate with winter severity, this method strongly depends on weather conditions and may not be suitable under conditions of a changing climate. Here, we present three alternative field methods to estimate deer population densities, which we tested in the Bohemian Forest: faeces genotyping, camera trapping and aerial surveys. The spatial use and the individual behaviours of the deer can be taken into account by the further addition of GPS telemetry. Our discussion of the study design, preliminary findings and future perspectives includes a consideration of the relationship between red deer distribution and both browsing survey results and hunting bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High numbers of red deer Cervus elaphus pose a challenge for natural forests because of their high browsing intensities, especially during winter months. To mitigate this human–wildlife conflict, conservation management in central Europe involves luring red deer into fenced winter-feeding sites. The supplementary food provided in these so-called winter enclosures strongly differs from the natural diet of red deer. Dietary shifts, however, can lead to an imbalance of the gut microbiota, which could promote bacterial pathogens. Moreover, increased inter-individual contact in winter enclosures enhances the exchange of symbiotic but also pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples of red deer inhabiting the Bavarian Forest National Park to investigate differences in the gut bacterial microbiota between individuals in winter enclosures and individuals that ranged freely in the forests in winter. We also investigated the occurrence of potential zoonotic bacterial pathogens in both study groups. Our results revealed that proportions of bacterial taxa, alpha- and beta-diversities, and relative abundances of amplicon sequence variants in the gut bacterial microbiota of the two groups differed. These differences were attributed to the enrichment of bacterial taxa involved in the digestion of the supplementary food and to different natural diets consumed before entering the winter enclosures. We detected sequences with high similarities to known red deer pathogens in both study groups, but their relative abundances were low, which suggests that the population of red deer of the Bavarian Forest National Park is healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird species are declining across Europe. Current European policy, that is, the Birds and Habitats Directives, focus on habitat management as a way of halting the declines. This paper explores the role of predation in causing bird population declines and asks if we need to reconsider our approach to the management of generalist predators.We analysed bird population trends and distribution changes across Europe, Britain and Ireland, reflecting an increasing gradient of generalist predator abundance (principally red fox Vulpes vulpes and species of the family Corvidae). We tested if ground‐nesting bird species, considered more vulnerable to predation, were in greater decline compared to other nesting strategies. We also compared Annex I designated species to non‐designated species as a proxy for habitat management.We found that across Europe, 74% of ground‐nesting bird species were in decline, compared to 41% of other species. This was especially evident in Britain, where the pattern was 66% compared to 31%, and in Ireland, 71% compared to 20%. Ground‐nesting species were significantly more likely to be declining than other species.These patterns are consistent with the idea that population declines are at least partially related to the increased abundance of generalist predators. In Britain, ground‐nesting species were less likely to be in decline if covered by Annex I designation. However, in Europe and Ireland, Annex I status did not mitigate the effect of nesting strategy.Policy implications. Current legislation is clearly insufficient to prevent widespread declines in ground‐nesting birds, and this is the case across Europe, in Britain and Ireland. Ignoring the role of generalist predators in modern landscapes may lead to further declines and losses. We urgently need large‐scale experiments to establish causality in the impact of generalist predators on ground‐nesting birds in different landscapes. If we value our ground‐nesting bird species, consideration needs to be given to the control of widespread generalist predators, at least until landscapes are restored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition is a widespread interaction among carnivores, ultimately manifested through one or more dimensions of the species' ecological niche. One of the most explicit manifestations of competitive interactions regards spatial displacement. Its interpretation under a theoretical context provides an important tool to deepen our understanding of biological systems and communities, but also for wildlife management and conservation. We used Bayesian multispecies occupancy models on camera‐trapping data from multiple sites in Southwestern Europe (SWE) to investigate competitive interactions within a carnivore guild, and to evaluate how species' ecological traits are shaping coexistence patterns. Seventeen out of 26 pairwise interactions departed from a hypothesis of independent occurrence, with spatial association being twice as frequent as avoidance. Association behaviors were only detected among mesocarnivores, while avoidance mainly involved mesocarnivores avoiding the apex predator (n = 4) and mesocarnivore‐only interactions (n = 2). Body mass ratios, defined as the dominant over the subordinate species body mass, revealed an important negative effect (β^=-0.38;CI95=-0.81to-0.06) on co‐occurrence probability, and support that spatially explicit competitive interactions are mostly expressed by larger species able to dominate over smaller ones, with a threshold in body mass ratios of ~4, above which local‐scale intraguild coexistence is unlikely. We found a weak relationship between pairwise trophic niche overlap and the probability of coexistence (β^=-0.19;CI95=-0.58to0.21), suggesting that competition for feeding resources may not be a key driver of competition, at least at the scale of our analysis. Despite local‐scale avoidance, regional‐scale coexistence appears to be maintained by the spatial structuring of the competitive environment. We provide evidence that SWE ecosystems consist of spatially structured competitive environments, and propose that coexistence among near‐sized species is likely achieved through the interplay of "facultative" and "behavioral" character displacements. Factors influencing carnivore coexistence likely include context‐dependent density and trait‐mediated effects, which should be carefully considered for a sound understanding of the mechanisms regulating these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitigation of conflicts associated with large carnivore damage to livestock and agriculture is pivotal to their conservation. We evaluate current programs to compensate and prevent large carnivore damage in 27 European countries and the factors related to the economic costs of these programs. Overall, high compensation costs are associated with free-ranging livestock (68% of total costs) and with national economic wealth. Contrary to general belief, the return of large carnivores does not always translate into higher compensation costs. We identify a tendency towards prioritizing compensation over prevention; only a few wealthy countries pay the majority of the money allocated for prevention programs to adapt husbandry practices to the presence of large carnivores. We conclude that programs mainly focused on paying large compensation amounts will often fail to build tolerance towards predators. To mitigate conflicts and optimize the cost-effectiveness of publicly funded measures, responsible agencies should be proactive, focus on prevention-based policies and periodically evaluate the effectiveness of compensation and prevention programs in an adaptive manner. With this purpose and to identify further solutions for conflict mitigation, we call for a pan-European database of damage occurrence, management actions and associated costs. • Wealthy countries tend to spend more to compensate large carnivore damage in Europe. • High compensation and prevention costs are associated with free-ranging livestock. • Large carnivores' return does not always translate into high compensation costs. • Only few European countries subsidize preventive measures on a regular basis. • Compensation alone will often fail to build tolerance towards predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gray wolf populations have been recovering recently across Europe, a fact that poses serious challenges to the management of the species. We investigate the population genetics of wolves at the south-eastern edge of their European range, in Greece, and identify conservation priorities for the species in the country. During population monitoring efforts (1998–2014) 48 tissue and hair samples were collected and genotyped at 14 microsatellite loci. Eight samples were discarded from further downstream analysis because of possible dog-wolf admixture. Unlike many other edge populations, wolves in Greece showed high levels of genetic variation (H E = 0.73; H O = 0.66). We detected two genetic clusters of wolves but no genetic bottleneck, which suggests that the human-caused population reduction of wolves in Greece may not have been as severe as previously assumed and that enough wolves may have survived in inaccessible areas and/or neighboring countries to maintain genetic diversity. Two of the main conservation priorities identified for gray wolves in Greece are non-invasive genetic monitoring and ensuring the functional connectivity of the Natura 2000 network through the identification and protection of ecological corridors and road-less areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a long and deliberate persecution, the grey wolf (Canis lupus) is slowly recolonizing its former areas in Europe, and the genetic consequences of this process are of particular interest. Wolves, though present in mainland Estonia for a long time, have only recently started to recolonize the country’s two largest islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The main objective of this study was to analyse wolf population structure and processes in Estonia, with particular attention to the recolonization of islands. Fifteen microsatellite loci were genotyped for 185 individuals across Estonia. As a methodological novelty, all putative wolf-dog hybrids were identified and removed (n = 17) from the dataset beforehand to avoid interference of dog alleles in wolf population analysis. After the preliminary filtering, our final dataset comprised of 168 “pure” wolves. We recommend using hybrid-removal step as a standard precautionary procedure not only for wolf population studies, but also for other taxa prone to hybridization. STRUCTURE indicated four genetic groups in Estonia. Spatially explicit DResD analysis identified two areas, one of them on Saaremaa island and the other in southwestern Estonia, where neighbouring individuals were genetically more similar than expected from an isolation-by-distance null model. Three blending areas and two contrasting transition zones were identified in central Estonia, where the sampled individuals exhibited strong local differentiation over relatively short distance. Wolves on the largest Estonian islands are part of human-wildlife conflict due to livestock depredation. Negative public attitude, especially on Saaremaa where sheep herding is widespread, poses a significant threat for island wolves. To maintain the long-term viability of the wolf population on Estonian islands, not only wolf hunting quota should be targeted with extreme care, but effective measures should be applied to avoid inbreeding and minimize conflicts with local communities and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key controversy in conservation is the framing of the relationship between people and nature. The extent to which the realms of nature and human culture are viewed as separate (dualistic view) or integrated is often discussed in the social sciences. To explore how this relationship is represented in the practice of conservation in Europe, we considered examples of cultural landscapes, wildlife (red deer, reindeer, horses), and protected area management. We found little support, for a dualistic worldview, where people and nature are regarded as separate in the traditional practice of conservation in Europe. The borders between nature and culture, wild and domestic, public land and private land, and between protected areas and the wider landscape were blurred and dynamic. The institutionalized (in practice and legislation) view is of an interactive mutualistic system in which humans and nature share the whole landscape. However, more dualistic ideals, such as wilderness and rewilding that are challenging established practices are expanding. In the context of modern day Europe, wilderness conservation and rewilding are not valid for the whole landscape, although it is possible to integrate some areas of low-intervention management into a wider matrix. A precondition for success is to recognize and plan for a plurality of values concerning the most valid approaches to conservation and to plan for this plurality at the landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A complex BTV transmission and maintenance network has emerged in Europe. [•] Wild ruminants are regarded as important actors in this epidemiological network. [•] We suggest that wildlife reservoirs contribute to BTV circulation in the Mediterranean. [•] Research is needed on wildlife–Culicoides and deer–BTV–livestock interactions. [•] Actions in wildlife should focus on monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on transboundary conflicts between great cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo L., and European fisheries interests. Two races of this species commonly occur in Europe; the 'Atlantic' Phalacrocorax carbo carbo and the 'Continental' P. c. sinensis. This migratory fish-eating bird has steadily expanded its European range and many consider this a nature conservation success. However, fishery representatives see the birds as harmful to their business and way of life, considering European Union (EU) legislation to be blocking the most intuitive and effective solution to the cormorant problem, namely co-ordinated, pan-European population reduction. This article argues that cormorant-fisheries conflicts and their resolution and management cannot be characterised as, or reduced to, a simplistic 'pan-European' vs 'local' argument. The nature of cormorant-fisheries conflicts is explored, key issues of cormorant ecology examined, and consideration is given to how impacts on fisheries might be measured. Discussions then focus on whether current policy prevents balanced and constructive solutions or whether better use of available instruments at local-national levels could actually be a vital step to a sustainable management solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research in Europe and North America suggested grouse are susceptible to collision with infrastructure, and anecdotal observation suggested greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) fence collision in breeding habitats may be prevalent. However, no previous research systematically studied greater sage-grouse fence collision in any portion of their range. We used data from probability-based sampling of fences in greater sage-grouse breeding habitats of southern Idaho, USA, to model factors associated with collision at microsite and broad spatial scales. Site-scale modeling suggested collision may be influenced by technical attributes of fences, with collisions common at fence segments absent wooden fence posts and with segment widths >4 m. Broad-scale modeling suggested relative probability of collision was influenced by region, a terrain ruggedness index (TRI), and fence density per square km. Conditional on those factors, collision counts were also influenced by distance to nearest active sage-grouse lek. Our models provide a conceptual framework for prioritizing sage-grouse breeding habitats for collision mitigation such as fence marking or moving, and suggest mitigation in breeding habitats should start in areas with moderate-high fence densities (>1 km/km2) within 2 km of active leks. However, TRI attenuated other covariate effects, and mean TRI/km2 >10 m nearly eliminated sage-grouse collision. Thus, our data suggested mitigation should focus on sites with flat to gently rolling terrain. Moreover, site-scale modeling suggested constructing fences with larger and more conspicuous wooden fence posts and segment widths <4 m may reduce collision. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problems associated with the management of increasing numbers of large ungulates in many European countries, more holistic approaches, such as ecosystem or landscape management, are called on to replace, for example, sectoral and single-species management. The implementation of holistic approaches, however, requires changes in societal institutions, which have proven to be both complicated and conflicting. The purpose of this article is to examine the institutional obstacles and incentives associated with the implementation of two holistic approaches to wildlife management, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the European Landscape Convention (ELC). Examination of the operational guidelines of the two approaches identified a number of challenges associated with multilevel and multiparty decision-making procedures. These institutional challenges need to be addressed in a systematic way in order to increase the adaptive capacity of the management of wildlife in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Understanding changes in the distribution and abundance of the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in Europe, as a result of the spread of the introduced North American grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, is vital to planning and implementing red squirrel conservation measures. We studied the effectiveness of a variation on a common method of monitoring squirrels, standardised visual counts that made use of a diffuse baiting approach to increase their detectability. Significantly more sightings of squirrels occurred on baited than on unbaited visual transect lines in trials with the assistance of volunteers, and we recommend the use of baits in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We collected primary data on 13 European ground squirrel reintroduction projects carried out in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland since 1989. During these projects more than 3,200 ground squirrels were reintroduced at 15 sites or used for reinforcement of 5 populations. Reintroductions can be considered successful at 7 sites where settlement and reproduction of the released individuals were observed. At other 7 sites reintroductions failed and the result of reintroduction is still unknown at one site. Proportion of long existing reintroduced colonies is even much lower. Results of reinforcements are unclear at all 5 sites. The main problems of reintroductions were the low number of released individuals, unsuitable methodology of releasing and inappropriate site management. For future reintroduction attempts we recommend to release a sufficient number of individuals and to use artificial burrows as well as temporary fencing of the site of release. Long-term management of the site and regular monitoring of the newly established population are also necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although juvenile dispersal is an important life history component, it remains one of the less understood ecological processes regulating the dynamics of animal populations. Lack of information about patterns of dispersal hampers the estimation of the actual status and demographic trajectory of populations, and can preclude the development of sound conservation strategies. The Eagle Owl Bubo bubo is an endangered bird species in the European Alps. Many breeding sites have been abandoned in the twentieth century, although some recovery has been reported lately. Moreover, the occupancy of traditional breeding sites across years in well-monitored Alpine populations varies a lot, this despite a relatively high breeding success at the population level. This raises concern about the long-term persistence of Alpine populations. Using conventional and satellite radiotracking, we investigated the spatio-temporal dispersal of 41 juvenile Eagle Owls originating from a population in the southwestern Swiss Alps. Our main goal was to determine dispersal distances, places and times of post-dispersal settlement. Juveniles left their parents between mid-August and mid-November. They covered, on average, 12.7 km per night (linear distance between two consecutive day roosts), often crossing high mountain ranges (up to 3,000 m altitude). The mean total distance covered by an individual during dispersal was 102 km (sum of night movements), with a maximum of 230 km. Settlement places were, on average, 46 km distant from the birth place. Our study establishes long-distance dispersal in juvenile Eagle Owls, even in a complex topography, suggesting the existence of a wide-scale metapopulation system across the northwestern Alps. This metapopulation dimension should be accounted for in conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese hunter numbers have been declining from a peak of 532,265 in 1970 to 166,386 in 2005. We analyzed demographic changes in hunter numbers from 1965 to 2005 using data from all 47 Prefectures. Most hunters were licensed for guns in 1965, but hunter numbers have declined in every Prefecture after 1975. The number of hunters who were licensed to trap increased in most Prefectures after 1985. A Hunter Recruitment Index (HRI) of younger age classes was positive in most Prefectures between 1965 and 1975. HRI of all age classes was negative in most Prefectures during the1980s, but those of older age classes mostly turned positive drastically after 1995. Trends in the number of gun hunters and recruitment of younger hunters affected hunter population dynamics until the 1980s. The increase in the number of those who desire to catch nuisance animals using a trap would have affected it since 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roe deer is the most abundant cervid species occurring in most of Europe. It has an increasing economic, cultural, and ecological importance. Therefore roe deer research programmes are essential for sustainable use of this species. Our purpose was to analyse the changes in the roe deer population and harvest in Europe on the basis of available game management information. For this study we used published data for 1984 and the early 2000s. During these two decades the reported roe deer numbers (spring population) increased from 6.2 to 9.5 million and hunting bag from 1.7 to 2.7 million individuals. The population size (density) and hunting bag of roe deer increased almost all over Europe, but especially in its western part. The real population size may be around 1.5 times larger than the official data say. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of the American eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe is causing a dramatic decline of the native European red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), due to competition. We used spatially explicit population dynamics models to illustrate the potential expansion of the grey squirrel from Italy, the only continental country with the species, into neighbouring countries. Simulations started with the known grey squirrel distributions in 1996 and modelled the spread for the next 100 years in two different scenarios. One “best case” in which a random seed crop pattern of poor, good and mast seed crops was simulated with concomitant effects on squirrel fecundity and mortality and one “worst case” scenario in which poor years were not included. In the best case scenario, it will take 30–40 years for grey squirrels to start invading the Alps and about 70–75 years to cross the border between Italy and France. First populations in Switzerland are predicted in 2051–2066. In the worst case scenario, the spread will be significantly faster: the species is predicted to reach France in 2026–2031 and Switzerland in 2031–2041. Removing two of the three populations of grey squirrel will likely postpone the invasion of Switzerland but not of France. Large areas of Europe contain potentially good habitat for grey squirrels, and expansion from Italy, to France, Switzerland and belong to most of Eurasia is simply a matter of time. This will represent a serious risk for the conservation of the native red squirrel and will have implications for national forest operations. However, a European policy towards introduced species is still lacking. There is therefore a need for a co-ordinated European approach to the management of the grey squirrel and other introduced species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conservation of the planet's biodiversity will depend on international policy intervention, yet evidence-based assessment of the success of such intervention is Lacking. Poor understanding of the effectiveness of international policy instruments exposes them to criticism or abandonment and reduces opportunities to improve them. Comparative analyses of population trends provide strong evidence for a positive impact of one such instrument, the European Union's Birds Directive, and we identify positive associations between the rate of provision of certain conservation measures through the directive and the response of bird populations. The results suggest that supranational conservation policy can bring measurable conservation benefits, although future assessments will require the setting of quantitative objectives and an increase in the availability of data from monitoring schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counts of females with cubs-of-the-year (FWC) have been used as an index for monitoring brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations or estimating a minimum number of adult females in several small and medium-sized populations. Because discriminating among family groups is crucial to this procedure, we sought to improve criteria used to differentiate among FWC using spatial and temporal distances between sightings. We used telemetry data from 11 FWC from southern and central Europe and 15 FWC from Sweden to determine the likelihood that observations were of the same FWC based on the distance moved and elapsed time period. Euclidean distances traveled by each FWC were estimated daily. We then calculated straight-line distances traveled by each FWC using intervals of 1-180 days, or the maximum available. We obtained the maximum values (highest percentiles) of distances over time for each FWC. We considered 2 periods of bear activity: early Spring, from first observations after denning until 30 June, and the remaining active season from 1 July until the onset of denning. Native FWC living in the boreal forest of Scandinavia moved farther than those living in the temperate forests of southern and central Europe. Differences among FWC in southern and central Europe may be related to habitat characteristics and to the origin (native or released) of the bears we studied. For example, based on the upper 95% prediction interval of the curve fitted of the 80 percentile in the early spring-June period, 2 observations 30 days apart are unlikely to be of the same individual if > 13 km apart for FWC in the boreal forest, > 15 km and >7 km, respectively, for released and native FWC in southern and central Europe. Our findings may be useful for biologists and managers to help differentiate FWC and thereby estimate the minimum number of family groups present, particularly in areas with low densities of FWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Deer numbers have increased dramatically throughout Europe and North America over the last century, but empirical analyses of variation in harvesting and the influence of biological and cultural factors are lacking. 2. We examined trends in size and composition of red deer Cervus elaphus harvests over the last three to four decades in 11 European countries with contrasting deer productivity, management strategies and hunting traditions. 3. The harvest increased exponentially in all countries except Austria and Germany, where it was stable, and Poland, where it has declined in recent years. Harvest growth rates ranged from 0·009 in Austria to 0·075 in Sweden and depended on the management system and harvest composition, being negatively related to the proportion of females in the adult harvest. 4. Within four focal countries (France, Hungary, Norway and Scotland), there was considerable spatial variation in harvest growth rates. These tended to be higher in recently colonized areas than in traditional hunting areas and were often higher than the maximum possible population growth rate. Range expansion was an important component of the increase in total harvest in France and Scotland, but not in Hungary or Norway. 5. Harvest composition was available for seven countries, all of which showed a strong increase in the proportion of calves in the harvest. The sex ratio of the adult harvest was relatively stable, being strongly male-biased in Norway and marginally female-biased elsewhere. The proportion of males in the harvest was unrelated to trophy hunting objectives. 6. Synthesis and applications. Our study emphasizes that cultural aspects of management need to be accounted for, as well as biological factors, when interpreting the patterns of harvest growth and composition across Europe. Widespread sustained harvest growth has occurred, suggesting continued growth of deer populations with consequent social and economic impacts. Population control is therefore a major challenge for the future, currently hampered by inadequate population data and a decreasing number of hunters in some countries. Increasing the motivation of hunters to harvest female deer is one possible solution, although this may conflict with hunting traditions and economic considerations in some areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Supplementary winter feeding of game animals, and particularly deer, is a common practice throughout northern (continental) Europe and parts of North America. Feeding is normally associated with maintaining high densities of animals for hunting, in terms of: (i) maintaining or increasing body weights and condition overwinter; (ii) improving reproductive performance and fertility; (iii) increasing overwinter survival; and (iv) reducing levels of damage caused to agriculture and forestry or the natural heritage. We consider the balance of evidence on the effectiveness of winter feeding of red deerCervus elaphusin achieving these objectives. Where that evidence is equivocal, we attempt to reconcile apparent contradictions to evaluate the circumstances under which winter feeding may or may not be effective.2. In general, feeding of red deer on open range appears to have relatively little effect on body weights or fecundity. Effects on increasing antler size and quality are variable and seem to depend on the degree to which animals may be mineral limited on native range. Effects on survival are similarly ambiguous. It is apparent, however, that to be effective in reducing mortality, any supplementation is required early in the season and not simply when heavy mortalities are already being experienced. If provision of supplementary foods is delayed until animals are perceived already to be in poor condition, such feeding may have little effect.3. One of the primary goals of winter feeding in both Europe and the USA has become the prevention of environmental damage, particularly damage to commercial and native forests, while maintaining deer populations at densities suitable for hunting. Again, empirical evidence for effectiveness in this regard is inconclusive, with some studies showing a decrease in damage caused, some showing no effect and others showing a significant increase in local impact.4. There are equally a number of problems associated with the provision of supplementary feeds overwinter. Those animals which come to the feeding stations may develop a reliance on the food supplement provided, reducing intake of natural forages to near zero; where feed provided is less than 100% of daily requirement, such animals may regularly lose, rather than gain condition. Feed provision is also extremely uneven at such feeding stations; dominant stags displace younger stags and hinds from the feed provided until they have themselves finished feeding. Concentrations of high densities of animals around small feed-areas may also increase the risk of infection and lead to development of high parasite burdens.5. In an attempt to assess the current status and distribution of supplementary winter feeding in Scotland, a questionnaire was circulated to a number of individual across the country. Results of this survey are summarized and conclusions presented on the likely effectiveness of current feeding practices in achieving their aims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that estimated the probability of detection for three of the most widespread snake species in Europe used in wildlife management. Factors affecting the probability of the snake's detection; Computation of the minimum number of times that a site must be visited to infer the absence of the particular species; Description of the study area.

Simple Summary: Forest grouses are among the most endangered ground-nesting birds in Central Europe. Their rapid population decline was associated with habitat loss and increasing predation risk leading to low breeding success. The aim of this study was to describe black grouse nest predators and potential predation risk in a study area with a small, extant population of black grouse (Ore Mts.) and in a study area with an already extinct grouse population (Jeseníky Mts.) in the Czech Republic. In order to determine the predation intensity to black grouse nests, 50 artificial nests (28 in Ore Mts., 22 in Jeseníky Mts.) were monitored using camera traps. The results showed that 56% of nests were predated. Within the time needed for successful incubation of the eggs (25 days), the nest survival probability was on average 45.5%. The proportion of depredated nests did not differ between habitat types (i.e., open forest interior, clearing, forest edge). The stone marten was the main potential nest predator in both study areas (39% in total), followed by common raven (25%) and red fox (22%). In conclusion, our study revealed the high predation pressure on black grouse nests which corresponds with increasing population trends of mesopredators and wild boars in Central Europe. We evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of predation risk on black grouse nests using artificial nests that were monitored by camera traps in mountain areas with a small extant (Ore Mts.) and already extinct (Jeseníky Mts.) black grouse population. The overall predation rate of artificial nests was 56% and we found significant differences in survival rate courses over time between both study areas (68% Ore Mts. vs. 41%, Jeseníky Mts.). Within the time required for successful egg incubation (25 days), nest survival probability was 0.32 in the Ore Mts. and 0.59 in Jeseníky Mts. The stone marten (Martes foina) was the primary nest predator in both study areas (39% in total), followed by common raven (Corvus corax, 25%) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes, 22%). The proportion of depredated nests did not differ between habitat types (i.e., open forest interior, clearing, forest edge), but we recorded the effect of interaction of study area and habitat. In Ore Mts., the main nest predator was common raven with seven records (37%). The Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) was responsible for most predation attempts in Jeseníky Mts. (five records, i.e., 83%), while in the Ore Mts., most predation attempts were done by red fox (six records, i.e., 38%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the issues on a public policy concerning the use of foothold traps set by the European Council to manage wildlife. Regulation of the use of foothold traps; Injuries and animal welfare concerns; Capture selectivity.

Focuses on some major changes in wildlife management and conservation in Europe and demonstrates how they feed back on wildlife issues. Overview of the European people and lifestyles; Growth of the European Union; Agricultural policy of European Union countries; Wildlife conservation across borders; Large carnivore initiative of Europe.

In the current epidemic of African swine fever (ASF) in Europe, the maintenance and spread of the disease among wild boar populations remains the most important epidemiological challenge. Affected and at-risk countries have addressed this situation using a diversity of wild boar management methods with varying levels of success. The methods applied range from conventional animal disease intervention measures (zoning, stakeholder awareness campaigns, increased surveillance and biosecurity measures) to measures aimed at reducing wild boar population movements (fencing and baiting/feeding) or population numbers (intensive hunting). To assess the perceived efficiency and acceptance of such measures in the context of a focal introduction of ASF, the authors organised a participatory workshop inviting experts from the fields of wildlife management, wild boar ecology, sociology, epidemiology and animal disease management to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various control approaches. The discussions between professionals from different countries took place using the World Café method. This paper documents the World Café method as a tool for increasing the level of participation in multi-stakeholder group discussions, and describes the outputs of the workshop pertaining to the control measures. In summary, the World Café method was perceived as an efficient tool for quickly grasping comprehensive perspectives from the professionals involved in managing ASF and wild boar populations, while promoting engagement in multi-disciplinary discussions. The exercise achieved a good overview of the perceived efficiency and applicability of the different control methods and generated useful recommendations for ASF control in wild boar populations in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hedgehogs are regularly brought to wildlife shelters. Depending on the area from where animals are accepted, translocation can occur between different regions or populations. In this study, the genetic diversity of wild hedgehog populations was compared with "shelter populations" within central Europe focusing on the western contact zone between both European hedgehog species. Some shelters were hosting both species at the same time, in one this could be shown genetically. Generally, no difference in genetic diversity between shelter individuals and wild populations was found. Two shelters from Innsbruck hosted individuals that probably belong to two subpopulations. This indicates that shelter management-related translocations could facilitate gene flow across a dispersal barrier. Hedgehogs are among the most abundant species to be found within wildlife shelters and after successful rehabilitation they are frequently translocated. The effects and potential impact of these translocations on gene flow within wild populations are largely unknown. In this study, different wild hedgehog populations were compared with artificially created "shelter populations", with regard to their genetic diversity, in order to establish basic data for future inferences on the genetic impact of hedgehog translocations. Observed populations are located within central Europe, including the species Erinaceus europaeus and E. roumanicus. Shelters were mainly hosting one species; in one case, both species were present syntopically. Apart from one exception, the results did not show a higher genetic diversity within shelter populations, indicating that individuals did not originate from a wider geographical area than individuals grouped into one of the wild populations. Two shelters from Innsbruck hosted individuals that belonged to two potential clusters, as indicated in a distance analysis. When such a structure stems from the effects of landscape elements like large rivers, the shelter management-related translocations might lead to homogenization across the dispersal barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cumulative impact of human activities has driven many species into severe declines across the globe. However, the recent focus on conservation optimism has begun to highlight case studies that go against this trend. Reforestation, agricultural abandonment, reintroduction and legislative change have led to a situation where large mammals have recovered and are now widespread across the European continent. This study summarizes the knowledge about wild ungulate distribution in Europe and review the diversity of ways in which they interact with humans. Drawn from a wide range of sources, we built distribution maps of European wild ungulates. Results show that 90% of Europe is home to at least 1 species of wild native ungulate, with roe deer and wild boar occupying 74% and 64% of Europe respectively. In contrast, wild native mountain ungulates only occupy 5% of Europe, and are often associated with protected areas. The wide distribution of most European ungulates combined with the extensive human activity within Europe result in a wide range of interactions between ungulates and humans. These interactions can be classified as services or disservices depending on the value orientation and economic position of the various stakeholders perceiving this relationship. Overall, our survey highlights the success of wildlife management policies in Europe and the potential for continental scale conservation of large mammals in human-dominated landscapes. However, maintaining the success of wild ungulate conservation requires actions from national and European institutions to improve coordinated management across jurisdictional borders and sectorial coordination for the whole landscape. Unlabelled Image • We summarize knowledge on wild ungulates distribution in Europe. • About 90% of Europe is home to at least one species of wild ungulates. • 75% of wild ungulate distribution is located outside protected areas. • We explore the complex interactions between ungulates and humans in Europe's anthropogenic landscape. • More than 7 million ungulates are harvested each year in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, outbreaks caused by multi-host pathogens (MHP) have posed a serious challenge to public and animal health authorities. The frequent implication of wildlife in such disease systems and a lack of guidelines for mitigating these diseases within wild animal populations partially explain why the outbreaks are particularly challenging. To face these challenges, the French Ministry of Agriculture launched a multi-disciplinary group of experts that set out to discuss the main wildlife specific concepts in the management of MHP disease outbreaks and how to integrate wildlife in the disease management process. This position paper structures the primary specific concepts of wildlife disease management, as identified by the working group. It is designed to lay out these concepts for a wide audience of public and/or animal health officers who are not necessarily familiar with wildlife diseases. The group's discussions generated a possible roadmap for the management of MHP diseases. This roadmap is presented as a cycle for which the main successive step are: step 1-descriptive studies and monitoring; step 2-risk assessment; step 3-management goals; step 4-management actions and step 5-assessment of the management plan. In order to help choose the most adapted management actions for all involved epidemiological units, we integrated a decision-making framework (presented as a spreadsheet). This tool and the corresponding guidelines for disease management are designed to be used by public and health authorities when facing MHP disease outbreaks. These proposals are meant as an initial step towards a harmonized transboundary outbreak response framework that integrates current scientific understanding adapted to practical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on a study by Christian Nellemann of the United Nations Environment Program which investigated the decreasing population of wild reindeer in Europe. Percentage of summer population densities; Factors that affected birth rates; Responsibilities of the Norwegian government.