Difference in abundance of wild mammals among livestock farm facilities and seasons

Abstract

To study whether monitoring point and/ or season impact results of camera trap research to monitor wildlife in a livestock farm, a camera was set inside and outside the four facilities and in the woodland, respectively, through a year, and RAI（relative abundance index）was compared among nine monitoring points and four seasons. RAI of mammals largely varied among facilities. RAI of mammalian carnivores were relatively larger inside the daily cattle burn, outside the fattening cattle burn and outside the breeding cattle burn. The species composition varied largely between inside and outside of the fattening cattle burn, the breeding cattle burn and wearhouse. Wild house mice and rats and wild wood mice were photographed outside facilities. Hence, it was suspicious that wild house mice and rats go in and out facilities and that direct and/ or indirect contacts of wild house mice and rats with wild wood mice. In addition, RAI of mammals demonstrated seasonal patterns. These results suggest that to select monitoring point and/ or study season impact results of camera trap research to monitor wildlife in a livestock farm.