Effect of wildlife refuges on small carnivores in a hunting area in Mediterranean habitat

Abstract

Most of Spain is managed for game hunting, an economic activity that is commonly related to predator control. This practice can affect the diversity and abundance of wild carnivores if, despite that hunting is legally focused on some target species, other species are illegally removed. This note evaluates the changes in the structure of carnivore assemblage between wildlife refuges (no predator control) and private areas managed for game production where, because of little regulation, foxes and crows can be eliminated. Our aim is to test if predator control produces a significant change in the presence of foxes (the target species) or whether it also affects other carnivores.