# Food Habits of the Wolf in a Low-Density Territory in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes (Portugal)

## TL;DR

This study examines the diet of a small wolf pack in Portugal, finding they primarily eat domestic animals despite available wild prey.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the trophic habits of a low-density wolf pack in a specific region of Portugal.

## Key findings

- Domestic animals made up 78.3% of the wolf pack's diet, with goats being the most consumed.
- Wild ungulates accounted for 21.7% of the diet, indicating some natural prey consumption.
- The pack's diet diversity and niche breadth suggest limited predatory capacity and reliance on domestic prey.

## Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of historic wolf packs registered in the influence area of Sabor reservoir and determine the trophic habits of the pack detected (Mogadouro Sul pack). We discuss how the Iberian wolf population in this area could be affected by the availability of food resources and the influence it may have on the shepherd-wolf conflict. We analyzed the diet composition examining the scats collected in the study area between 2015 and 2017, which were genetically confirmed. This pack mainly consumes domestic animals rather than wild ungulates although they are present throughout the study area. We attribute these findings to the fact that it is a small pack with limited predatory capacity. These feeding habits may affect public opinion and human tolerance towards wolves. Therefore, even in territories with a scarce presence of wolves, the measures to prevent attacks on livestock cannot be neglected, to its safeguard.

The study of carnivores’ diets is an important conservation tool, which can minimize conflicts with different stakeholders and provide proper substantiations for management measures. The main aim of this study was to understand the diet of a small, isolated pack named Mogadouro Sul, present in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes (Portugal). Scat analysis was the method used to determine what wolves consumed. The specific origin of all collected fecal samples (n = 78) was confirmed by molecular analysis. The results, expressed in frequency of occurrence (FO) showed that domestic animals were the most frequent food category in the wolf’s diet (78.3% FO), with a special incidence in goats (40.6% FO), although wild ungulates (roe deer and wild boar) also accounted for 21.7% FO of the diet. The study pack presented a diet diversity (H′) of 0.65 and a food niche breadth (B′) of 0.55. Food availability did not appear to be a limiting factor, and the wolf’s presence in the study area could be explained by changes in land use and increased infrastructure. This trophic behavior may threaten the conservation of this pack due to the persecution it may face.