- Rare wildcat found in the heath
A rare wildcat species has been spotted in the Heidekreis region for the first time in years. The animal was caught in a photo trap in Ahlden near Walsrode, as reported by the Lower Saxony State Forests. The European Wildcat was nearly extinct in Germany in the 18th and 19th centuries but is now making a comeback.
Initial recolonizations have been confirmed in southern Lower Saxony, such as the Harz, Solling, and Weserbergland regions. There were also signs of the animals in the Heidekreis during an action by the environmental organization BUND between 2017 and 2018 - now, a photo evidence has been obtained using a wildlife camera. According to the State Forests, there are currently between 5,000 and 10,000 of these animals living in Germany.
How were clues gathered?
Clues were first gathered using sticks baited with valerian in a forest area. The animals rub against the lure sticks, leaving behind hairs that can be examined. Based on this, certain locations were equipped with photo traps, two of which were successful.
The species, known in scientific terms as Felis silvestris, is often mistaken for domestic cats, the State Forests reported. Mice are the main prey of these shy animals. These diurnal and nocturnal wildcats can live up to ten years and often inhabit old mixed forests.
The photo evidence shows that efforts to re-establish the animals in the region have been successful. "We hope that we might be able to capture some offspring on one of the photo traps," said the Ahlden forest warden, Gerd Jülke.
The environmental organization BUND had recorded signs of the wildcat in the Heidekreis region before, serving as an other piece of evidence supporting its presence. Despite being categorized as a diurnal and nocturnal animal, the wildcat's elusive nature makes it challenging to determine an exact population count beyond the estimated 5,000 to 10,000 in Germany.
