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Sliwa, A.; Wilson, B.; Lamberski, N.; Lawrenz, A.; Herrick, J.
Report on surveying and catching Black-footed cats (_Felis nigripes_) on Nuwejaarsfontein Farm / Benfontein Nature Reserve in 2011
2011  Full Book

Valuable data on censusing and catching black-footed cats have been collected again on these short trips of the BFCWG on Benfontein NR, where the species was intensively studied between 1992 -1998. We only captured 2 new cats (during only 9 nights of spotting there) the remaining were recaptures of cats with expired collars. The spotting frequency was similar to those during the previous field trips (see progress reports 2005- July 2010). The difference to the July 2010 trip was that we captured only one unmarked female and a kitten. The sighting frequencies between the two study areas during this trip were reversed during the two trips in 2011, in February no new black-footed cat was seen or captured on Nuwejaarsfontein, while we saw and caught two cats on Benfontein. In November we saw many more cats on Nuwejaarsfontein than on Benfontein. We assume that the chance of detection was similar between the two sites as both have open habitats with good visibility. In general the spot-lamp searching has been greatly hampered in both study sites in February due to the exceptional rains, which started in January, continuing through our capture trip in February and keeping on into June. More than double the average rainfall was received during this year, turning the roads and veld into mud and making many roads through short grass with former good visibility impassable. Due to the rains most former short-grass-areas grew longer and thicker grass. An interesting aspect for the February trip was also, that the only bfcs we caught we detected and caught while they ran on dirt roads. A behaviour that is not normally commonly shown has been altered due to unusual weather patterns. The jackal density on Benfontein seemed lower during this year and we saw none on Nuwejaarsfontein. We saw African wildcats again on Nuwejaarsfontein and saw feral/domestic cats as well as caracal on Benfontein, which may cause predation and competition/disease transmission to black-footed cats. Due to the short time periods the group spent on Benfontein we were not able to make a reasonable judgement of the population. However, with all the individuals seen and partly radio-marked cats on Benfontein, there are probably more in areas of long grass, the population seems to be holding on.

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