Cameras were deployed with a bias towards the forest and forest margin habitat (assumed to be high cat activity areas), however, as well as in mixed scrub and open farmland habitats. Cameras were placed spatially independent of one another (≥ 2-km) according to literature on mean cat home range size. “In November 2015, we placed 60 camera traps in Site 2 for 21 days. Stock damage to cameras and a large number of non-target images were issues encountered at Site 1. Due to the unbiased deployment method used in Site 1, several cameras were deployed in different habitat types, such as forest (both exotic and indigenous), forest margin (any edge between a forest and another habitat), mixed scrub (scrub, rocky areas, or a combination of the above), and open farmland (exposed farmland/paddocks).”
Cameras were placed systematically on pre-determined grid points, across a 7 square kilometre grid with approximately 500 metre spacing between individual cameras. “In June 2014, we placed 40 camera trap in Site 1 for 21 days. Some cameras were also deployed in open farmland habitat and mixed scrub.Ī feral cat caught on camera. Cameras at Site 1 were deployed at pre-determined GPS points on a 500-m grid, and at Site 2 they were strategically placed with a bias towards forest and forest margin habitat. The researchers aimed to compare detection probabilities and mean abundance estimates for cameras using the two different deployment strategies (systematic vs strategic) at the two similar pastoral sites. Cats may prefer a variety of habitats, but most often those that include water sources and a mix of forest cover (both exotic and native).” However, in other habitats around New Zealand such as steep forest terrain in the southern North Island, feral cats were found to have linear home ranges of up to 6.34 km (males), 3.83 km (females), and smaller home ranges for females with kittens (0.84–2.0 km). “Feral cat home ranges in Hawke’s Bay farmland are estimated at approximately 1.9 square kilometres (males) and 0.9 square kilometres (females), with a density of 3–6 per kilometre. Different camera trap models were used at the two sites, as these sites were originally intended for use in separate studies.”ĭepending on resource availability and density, cats can have variable home-ranges that may overlap.
The habitat is similar to that in Site 1, with a mixture of native forest, open farmland, and some semi-urban habitat. Site 2 lies within a 26,000-ha portion of the Cape to City ecological restoration area. “Site 1, Toronui Station is a 1600-ha pastoral property with a mix of open farmland and native forest. This study took place at two sites in Hawke’s Bay.
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