Medium-size mammals as selected prey for wolf pups in Central Italy

• Main Authors: Di Rosso A., Boni C. B., Baldanti S., Casini L., Coppola F., Felicioli A.
• Other Authors: Di Rosso, A., Boni, C. B., Baldanti, S., Casini, L., Coppola, F., Felicioli, A.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: wolf pups; diet; prey; medium-size mammals; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1260121

The diet of the adult grey wolf (canis lupus italicus) has been widely investigated not only in Italy but all over the world, conversely pups diet has been poorly investigated. It is known that, around three weeks of age, wolf pups start to feed on preys provided to them by the adults of wolf. Some categories of preys, are less eaten by the adults of wolf in the summer period, this is probably due to a selective provision of medium size mammals and birds prey categories for pups by adults. Further investigation to assess the importance of these prey species for pups survival are desirable.