European wildcats could be seen again in England for first time in 100 years

Two-year study finds area of woodland in Devon to be ideal habitat to support a controlled release of the creaturesThe prospect of European wildcats prowling in south-west England has taken a leap forward after a two-year study concluded a reintroduction was feasible - and most local people were positive about the idea.Having been absent for more than a century, mid-Devon has been judged to have the right kind of habitat to support a population of Felis silvestris.The south-west contains enough woodland cover connected by other suitable habitat to support a sustainable wildcat population.Two surveys were conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter. In one, 71% of 1,000 people liked the idea of wildcat return. In the other, 83% of 1,425 who responded expressed positivity.Wildcats pose no significant risk to existing endangered wildlife populations such as bats and dormice. Wildcat diets concentrate on widespread commonly found species, with 75% of their prey consisting of small mammals including voles, rats, wood mice and rabbits.Wildcats pose no threat to people, domestic pets or farming livestock such as lambs. Commercial and domestic poultry can be protected from wildcats with the same precautions deployed for existing predators such as foxes. Continue reading...