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Sustainable wildlife management requires reliable data on population, habitat, and the interaction between them. Since 1993, Hungary has maintained the National Game Management Database, which collects data on game populations and hunting bags annually. During the last three decades, populations of medium-sized predators have remarkably increased in the country. Our study analyzed changes in hunting bag data and spatial distribution of two invasive alien species, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), utilizing annual game management reports from Game Management Units from 1997 to 2021. For spatial analysis, we employed a UTM grid system (10 × 10 km) covering the country. Our findings confirmed increasing trends in the hunting bag and area (number of grid cells) containing hunting bags for both species. From the first (1997–2001) to the last (2017–2021) period, the average annual hunting bag increased (raccoon: 0.40 → 11.00 ind/year; raccoon dog: 3.40 → 8.00 ind/year), and the average number of cells with hunting bags also expanded significantly (raccoon: 2.00 → 9.60 UTM cells/year; raccoon dog: 5.80 → 15.20 UTM cells/year). These trends and the size of potentially suitable habitats suggest a further spread and population increase, posing challenges for nature conservationists and wildlife managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations have been increasing in Europe in the last decades. Without reliable methods, game managers frequently underestimate the population size, leading to underharvesting. The aim of this research was to identify the most suitable method for roe deer density estimation in lowland, sparsely forested, high-visibility flat areas in Hungary. The census data of the total counting in the daytime strip transect and the night spotlight strip transect, as the total counting of the sample areas with a thermal camera from observation points within 0–250 m and 0–500 m ranges, were compared in seven hunting areas. It was revealed that using the thermal camera within 0–250 m and the spotlight method in the same range gave the statistically highest population density values. There was no significant difference between the two methods. The smallest mean was revealed in the case of the daytime strip transect data. The thermal imaging method gave significantly lower values for the greater distance (250–500 m) than for the range of spotlighting (250 m). The night spotlight strip transect method and the counting from observation points with a thermal camera, both to 250 m, provided the highest values; thus, they are recommended to determine the roe deer population density in open flat areas. They require the same amount of human resources and time, but due to the high cost of the thermal camera, the spotlight is also perfectly suited for widespread use by hunting companies. The results supported the underestimation of roe deer populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Hungarian Great Plain the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the most important species for wildlife management. The supplementary feeding of roe deer in Hungary is a traditional habit, it can be beneficial for deer to survive and keep body condition during winter. In our study, we aimed to know the behavioural habits of roe deer at feeding places. The data were collected in two wildlife management units in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county in Hungary from the winter of 2019 until the spring of 2020. Roe deer followed a temporal trend, with higher numbers around feeders in colder months and lower numbers in warmer months. Their visits followed a bimodal activity pattern that was characterized by peaks of activity at dawn and dusk. We were able to link the presence of snow cover and precipitation to an increase in the feeding activity of roe deer. It is important to understand that the presence of deer at the feeder does not reflect the actual biological effect of the use of feeders on deer. Game managers should identify what the main goal of the feeding is and think of how to validate the effectiveness of this expensive intervention. We suggest at least measuring how much of the supplemented feed actually makes up the diet of roe deer individuals. However, it would be the most reliable approach to analyse the physiological and biological differences between fed and non-fed deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding wild boar populations associate to conflicts with human activities, being a threat to livestock and public health. Particularly, the emergence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Europe is of major importance. To better understanding the dynamics at the interface between wild boar and domestic pigs in Europe, which is essential to prevent the risk for ASF spread, this report describes (i) the use of extensive pig farm resources by wildlife (wild boar and other mammals) and domestic pigs, and (ii) the factors involved. We studied two regions of Central‐Eastern Europe with different farm management of pigs in Serbia, in low biosecurity farms in forest/bushland habitats, and Hungary, characterized by more industrial and professional farming in fenced pastures. Camera traps (CTs) were placed at a priori risk points for interspecies interactions and in random points in 4 representative outdoor pig farms in different seasons during 2022 (2 farms in Serbia and 2 in Hungary). Also, questionnaires were distributed to 37 farms (17 in Serbia and 20 in Hungary, respectively) to describe the main features and risk factors for wildlife‐pigs interaction on outdoor pig farms. CTs revealed that the wild species that more frequently used the study farms resources were golden jackal (Canis aureus) and wild boar in Serbia, and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Hungary (at the periphery of fenced farms). The use of extensive farm resources by wild boar was frequent and widespread throughout the study area of Serbia (over 33 % of daily presence per farm, 3.70 visits detected per week) whereas it was rarely detected in our sampled Hungarian farms. Wild boar visit frequency (Serbia) peaked during spring (7.5 visits per CT and day, CT*day), mainly associated with water point use (2.1 visits per CT*day). In Hungary, the greater number of direct interactions occurred between pigs and red deer during summer. Even when a higher average number of risk points were identified inside Hungarian farms, they were less permeable due to effective perimeter fencing, which prevented the entrance of wild boar and other big sized terrestrial wildlife. The study exemplifies contrasted outdoor pig farm managements, and associated risks for interaction with wild boar in ASF infected or at‐risk regions. Management, characterized by almost absence of external biosecurity in the specific type of production in Serbia raise health concerns, and indicates the need to develop efforts to improve biosecurity. Several strategies and specific measures adapted to environmental conditions and farm management could reduce the interactions at the wild boar‐pig interface in Serbia (and similar production systems in Eastern Europe). This should be materialized in farm‐specific biosecurity programs and protocols, which requires the evaluation of their effectiveness, costs, and practical value. The type of farming practiced in marginal agricultural/forest lands in Eastern Europe, often connected to backyards production, is a highly priority for biosecurity issues at European level. However, the focus should not be only on improving technical aspects of biosecurity, but also on socio‐economic and educational determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife conflicts are one of the most important challenges facing wildlife conservation. In Kenya, the Nairobi National Park (NNP) experiences various pressures due to its small size and close proximity to an expanding city. The unfenced southern part of the park is the main hotspot for conflicts. For the review a content analysis of 21 publications related to NNP published between 2011 and 2022 was conducted to identify the causes, types and the mitigation measures of conflicts around the park. Documents for the analysis were collected through Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus. Our results indicate that livestock predation linked to lions is the major type of conflict superseded by retaliatory killings of the carnivores by the local communities. Other conflicts include crop raids by ungulates and the spread of diseases especially the East Coast fever that is transmitted from the wildebeest to livestock. Findings further reveal that one of the main causes of the conflicts is the expanding human population, which has encroached on wildlife dispersal corridors. It resulted in land subdivision and fencing of the farms as farmers try to protect their livestock from wildlife. This has greatly impeded wildlife migration. Mitigation methods in place include compensation schemes and landowners leasing their farms to the park management so that the corridors can be left open for free wildlife movement. These have however been inadequate therefore there is still a need to find sustainable mitigation measures that ensure coexistence between humans and wildlife in and around NNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several ungulate species are showing increasing population patterns within their geographical distribution ranges, leading to constant interactions with other animal species. Varying densities and activities of different ungulates may result in diverse impacts on other coexisting species groups, including large numbers of threatened species, such as reptiles. In this study, we performed an analysis of the available literature to investigate the impacts of ungulates on reptiles. We aimed to reveal the diversity of: (1) the geographical and environmental distribution of related investigations; (2) the ungulate and reptile species involved; and (3) the characteristics of interactions (direct or indirect, positive or negative) from 69 publications. Our results show that the most papers were reported from the Americas (42%) and Australia (28%). The proportions of studies were balanced for wild ungulates (53%) and livestock (47%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa) was found to be the most problematic species on reptiles whereas reptiles which suffered the harshest impacts were Squamates (i.e., lizards, and snakes). Ungulate activities (e.g., digging by wild boar) may directly harm reptiles (consuming or killing them) or indirectly affect them by modifying their habitats or destroying their hideouts. Some preferential effects were also noted (e.g., by moderate livestock grazing or when wild ungulates are prey for large reptiles). Published livestock impacts were mainly indirect and mostly negatively linked to overgrazing. We conclude that it is important to manage and monitor the densities of ungulates to minimize their negative impacts on reptile species, especially in case of wild boar and grazing livestock, but also to maintain their moderate beneficial effects (e.g., as prey basis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common use of habitats by people and game species has been causing conflicts for a long time. With the intensification of agriculture, the level of agricultural damage has also increased. In many cases farmers and game managers try to solve their related disagreements in court, often unsuccessfully. The aim of our research was to find out the reasons for these difficulties and to show possible solutions. We studied 55 judicial documents in three courts in Nógrád County. In most cases more species caused the damages simultaneously. Red deer was involved in 42 cases of damages (76%), out of which in 34 cases wild boar, roe deer and mouflon were involved as well, and 8 damages were caused by just the red deer. Wild boar caused 33 damages (60%), out of which 29 were caused by the other species as well, and 4 cases were caused only by the wild boar. Roe deer was involved in 21 damages (38%), all of them were caused by wild boar and red deer, too. Mouflon caused 3 damages (5%) always together with roe deer and wild boar. Damages were caused mainly in maize (23,64%), forest, sunflower (12,73% for both) and grassland (5,45%). Proceedings lasted for 13,65 months on average; their median was 8 months. The average claim of farmers was 1 514 610 HUF, its median was 783 000 HUF. At the end of the suits, farmers received the whole compensation in 8 cases (14,55%) and they got part of the relief on ten occasions (18,18%). Suits were ceased 14 times (25,45%) and no compensation had to be paid in 23 cases (41,82%). If parties did not comply with their obligation to prevent damage, the court adjudged only part of the relief. Furthermore, if they turned directly to the court - even if the court could not investigate the case (e.g., claim is lower than 3 million HUF) - no compensation had to be paid. Ignorance of law and unprofessional expertise of farmers negatively influenced the judicial proceedings. Both farmers and game managers should be informed about the exact steps of the procedure for solving these long-lasting conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of agriculture has resulted in changes to mowing techniques. Slow manual cutting gave wild animals time to move to safer habitat patches and left hiding places for them. With the arrival of much faster mowing machinery this is no longer the case. To date, there are few ways of measuring direct mortality of new mowing capabilities on wildlife. In our study we aimed to answer whether a search dog, previously trained to find carcasses, could be used to assess mowing mortality of various species in different vegetation types in Hungary. Working with a handler, a carcass-trained dog fitted with a GPS surveyed several habitats post-mowing. All the animal remains detected were identified and recorded. 149 killed individuals were detected on 12 land parcels studied (158.2 carcasses/100 ha). The most affected vertebrate group was the reptiles (57%), all with protected status in Hungary, followed by mammals (30%) and birds (6%). Reptiles were predominantly represented by lizards, while rodents were the most common mammals found (91% and 70%, respectively). The dog also found dead brown hares, pheasants and roe deer (11% of all carcasses), which has implications for local wildlife managers. There was no statistical difference in the density of dead individuals between grassy meadows and leguminous vegetation, or in those found in the morning or afternoon. The mortality rate was not associated with the area of the mowed field. Our findings suggest that this is a viable use of carcass detection dogs. We recommend additional work of this kind to reveal the fatal impacts of new, faster mowing practices on wildlife living in agricultural landscapes to help mitigate conservation and game management conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]