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Although many studies highlighted the potential of COVID-19 to reshape existing models of wildlife management, empirical research on this topic has been scarce, particularly in Europe. We investigated the potential of COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the ongoing decline in an aging population of recreational hunters in Italy. Namely, we modelled spatiotemporal trends between 2011 and 2021 in the number of recreational hunters in 50 Italian provinces with a varying incidence of COVID-19, and temporally delayed waves of infection. Compared to projections from 2011–2019 data, we detected a lower number of hunters who enrolled for the hunting season, both in 2020 (14 provinces) and in 2021 (15 provinces). The provinces with the highest incidence of COVID-19 in the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions were also those experiencing the most marked decrease in hunting participation. Our findings revealed that a wildlife management system based on recreational hunting can be rapidly destabilized by epidemics and their associated public health measures, particularly when the average age of hunters is high, like in Italy. Considered the high incidence attained by COVID-19 in many European countries, where hunters are pivotal for the management of large ungulates and where they were already declining before the pandemic, our findings call for further large-scale research about the impact of COVID-19 on hunting participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current, rapid urbanisation process impacts global biodiversity and can be a driver for phenotypic changes in mammals that persist in cities. Animals display different response strategies in urban environments compared to natural areas, but patterns may differ among species. To better comprehend this process, we focused on a limited number of species that are present in many urban green spaces around the globe.The aim of this systematic review is to investigate which response strategies chipmunks, arboreal and flying squirrels use to cope with urban environments, exploring whether there are general response patterns, and to reveal potential adaptations to life in urban areas. We included studies that compared trait differences among conspecifics living in different areas along an urbanisation gradient (rural–urban) and studies comparing individuals or populations between urban areas with different environmental characteristics.The effects of urbanisation on chipmunks, arboreal and flying squirrels, at the individual and at the population levels, were identified in nine topics. Included articles explored at least one of these topics and their key findings were described.Effects of urbanisation are evident in all considered topics. However, we found contrasting patterns between species or even among individuals of the same species studied in different geographical areas. Overall, we reported two knowledge gaps: some phenotypic traits were considered in few studies, and many species, especially those living in the Global South, where urban growth rate is higher, have not been studied.This systematic review suggests that urbanisation can be an important driver for adaptation in small mammals, underlining the complexity and differentiation of response patterns. Since target species have important ecological and social roles, additional comparative studies, increasing our understanding of processes that determine their presence in cities, are essential for urban green planning which aims to conserve biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the relationship between animal stress and personality for free‐ranging animals is limited and provides contrasting results. The perception of stressors by an individual may vary due to its personality, and certain personality traits may help individuals to better cope with them. Using non‐invasive infrared thermography (IRT), we investigated the link between physiological and behavioral components expressed during an acute stress event by free‐ranging Fremont's squirrels (Tamiasciurus fremonti). We expected that, during the acute stress event of being approached by the researcher, individuals that showed a fast pace‐of‐life syndrome (bolder, more active, and less social/more aggressive) based on an arena test would exhibit stronger sympathetic‐adrenal‐medullary system reactivity showing a more intense stress‐induced hyperthermia (high core body temperature and low peripheral temperature) than individuals with a slow pace of life (shy, less active, and more social). We successfully employed IRT technology to images of Fremont's squirrels with identification of the individuals' body parts (eye, nose, ear, hind foot). However, we found no support for our hypothesis. Squirrels' body surface temperatures told us more about a squirrel's external environment and less about the thermal state of the body in that environment following a stressful event. Further studies need to assess how to make IRT effective and efficient in the field and improve its performance in studying the relationships between physiology and personality in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence indicates the non‐consumptive effects of predators significantly impact prey physiology, ecology and behaviour. Passerine birds experience adverse effects on nesting and reproductive success when in proximity to predators. Fear of predators is context‐dependent and influenced by hunting habitats and foraging strategies. While some bat species prey on birds, the greater noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus) stands out by specialising in avian prey, especially during peak bird migration. N. lasiopterus is thought to seize avian prey in flight, but direct evidence is lacking. If birds were taken from nests, they would likely avoid nesting near these bats. However, no observations support this view. This study documents the successful reproduction of Eurasian blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) nesting alongside a colony of approximately 25 greater noctules. This bird species is a prey species for greater noctules in Italy. Over about 1 month (April–May 2023), we observed parent birds provisioning food to chicks, with at least two chicks alive and fed outside the tree cavity by the end of the period. While acknowledging the limitations of a single observation, we propose that this previously unknown behaviour indirectly supports the idea that greater noctules only capture avian prey in flight, not within confined spaces. This observation challenges the perception that these bats pose a threat when sharing roosting spaces in trees, as evidenced in our observed case. We hope this novel observation inspires future research on variations in bird nesting behaviour and reproductive success in the presence of bird‐eating bats, as well as an assessment of the long‐term impact on population dynamics and reproductive success of nesting birds sharing such roosting spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unequal distribution of the costs and benefits of living with wildlife is one of the causes of human-carnivore conflicts. The existence of large carnivores is valued globally, but the costs of damages and management impacts human residents. The Apennine brown bear is endemic of central Italy and, besides its ecological value, it can attract tourists in search of nature and wilderness. The Advertising Value Equivalent of the bears' appearances in the national newspaper and on television from 2015 to 2020 was used to calculate the economic value of this flagship species as a destination image. The 11 million Euro of Advertising Value Equivalent estimated largely exceeded the amount of reimbursements sustained by the Park to manage this carnivore in the same period. This evaluation of cultural value could be used to highlight the economic benefits provided by the bear and contribute to the discussions with managers and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) became extinct in Italy between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century. A few animals were recorded at the border with Austria in 2018 and 2020. Between 2021 and 2023, beavers were reported in six Central and Southern Italy areas at more than 350-400 km from the nearest colonies. Following an official position by the Italian Mammal Society, this paper aims to explore the possible origin of these nuclei, suggests their removal and provide an analysis of the concerns and management recommendations. Given the distances between beaver locations in Central and Southern Italy and the rapid appearance of numerous small nuclei with few individuals in just a couple of years, the most plausible explanation is multiple unlawful releases. Unplanned and unauthorised reintroductions are unacceptable in terms of a sound wildlife management approach and represent a dangerous precedent stimulating further unlawful release of mammals. Therefore, we urge competent authorities to remove these animals from the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitats are characterized by different local environmental conditions that influence both behavior and morphology of species, which can result in habitat‐dependent phenotypic differences among animals living in heterogeneous environments. We studied 3 alpine populations of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), 1 living in a marginal high‐elevation habitat at the edge of the species' altitudinal distribution, and 2 occurring in higher‐quality habitats. Here, we investigated whether squirrels living in the marginal area differed in 2 morphological parameters (body size and body mass) and/or in the expression of 4 personality traits estimated with an open field test and a mirror image stimulation test (activity, exploration, activity‐exploration, and social tendency). Furthermore, we tested whether within‐individual variance of the traits (behavioral plasticity) was higher in the edge habitat. Male squirrels in the edge habitat were smaller and weighed less than in the other study areas, while among females, size–habitat relationships were less marked. These sex‐specific patterns were explained by a strong association between body mass and reproductive success in female squirrels. Squirrels in the marginal habitat were more active, explorative, and had a more social personality than in the other habitats. However, in contrast to our predictions, behavioral plasticity was smaller in the marginal habitat, but only for the trait exploration. Our results suggest that animals choose the habitat that best fits their personality, and that habitat‐related differences in selective pressures may shape animals' morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]