Fine-Scaled Selection of Resting and Hunting Habitat by Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a Rural Human-Dominated Landscape in Taiwan

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Presently, Taiwan’s endangered leopard cat mostly occurs in unprotected, rural, human-dominated landscapes. To survive within these landscapes, the species needs suitable habitat for nighttime hunting but also safe refuge for resting during daytime hours when human activity, and herewith human-related threat, peaks. Although important for the species’ conservation, little is known about the characteristics of the leopard cat’s resting habitat. In this study, we tracked seven VHF-collared leopard cats. Every day we determined where these leopard cats rested, and every ten days we followed a leopard cat throughout the night and recorded its locations at 30 min intervals. We assessed land use at nighttime locations and land use and fine-scaled vegetation characteristics at resting sites and determined whether leopard cats selected certain habitats or simply used them according to availability. The leopard cats in our study seemed to use a proactive strategy to avoid humans by selecting natural habitats for hunting and resting and avoiding areas with high levels of human activity. Resting sites were preferably situated in natural habitats with little visibility (<2 m), shrubs, reed and stones, away from orchards, buildings and roads. This information will assist in identifying and conserving suitable resting habitats for leopard cats. ABSTRACT: Wildlife is increasingly forced to live in close proximity to humans, resulting in human-wildlife conflict and anthropogenic mortality. Carnivores persisting in human-dominated landscapes respond to anthropogenic threats through fine-scaled spatial and temporal behavioral adjustments. Although crucial for conservation, quantitative information on these adjustments is scarce. Taiwan’s endangered leopard cat occurs in rural human-dominated landscapes with a high anthropogenic mortality risk. To survive, the nocturnal leopard cat needs suitable habitats for foraging and safe refuge for resting during daytime hours when human activity peaks. In this study, we tracked seven VHF-collared leopard cats. To determine habitat selection patterns, we compared land use at nighttime locations and daytime resting sites with random points and fine-scaled vegetation characteristics at daytime resting sites with random points. Leopard cats selected natural habitats for nighttime hunting and avoided manmade and, to a lesser extent, agricultural habitats or used them according to availability. For daytime resting, leopard cats selected natural habitats and, to a lesser extent semi-natural habitats, such as unused land and abandoned orchards. Resting sites were preferentially situated in natural habitats, with little visibility (<2 m), shrubs, reed and stones, away from areas with high levels of human activity. This suggests leopard cats use a proactive strategy to avoid human encounters, which was supported by the reduced temporal overlap with humans and domestic dogs on agricultural land. Resting sites were placed ca. 1 km apart, 12.9 ± 0.3 m (mean ± SE) from the patch’s edges, in patches with a size of 1.21 ± 0.04 ha (mean ± SE). Our results will assist in identifying and preserving suitable resting habitats to support leopard cat conservation.