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<p>In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel colonies have been implemented. The aim in supporting the population of the European ground squirrel is to increase the number of birds of prey and to ensure a food base for them. In this paper, we focus on evaluating the success rate of European ground squirrel (<italic>Spermophilus citellus</italic>) management measures. The research was realized at two localities in the Protected Bird Area Slovenský kras (Hrhov and Gemerská Hôrka) in the years 2015–2018. Activities were focused on the management of grassland and supplemental feeding during the breeding period. As a result of the management measures and the supplemental feeding, we managed to maintain a positive trend in the populations’ development, as there was an increase observed in all the monitored seasons.</p>
</abstract>

In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its number, mainly due to the intensification of agriculture. Currently, several programs focused on the recovery and preservation of ground squirrel colonies have been implemented. The aim in supporting the population of the European ground squirrel is to increase the number of birds of prey and to ensure a food base for them. In this paper, we focus on evaluating the success rate of European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) management measures. The research was realized at two localities in the Protected Bird Area Slovenský kras (Hrhov and Gemerská Hôrka) in the years 2015–2018. Activities were focused on the management of grassland and supplemental feeding during the breeding period. As a result of the management measures and the supplemental feeding, we managed to maintain a positive trend in the populations’ development, as there was an increase observed in all the monitored seasons.

Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development

Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management

Folia Oecologica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

In the past, the European ground squirrel represented a common part of Slovakian fauna. During the 20th century, there was a substantial decrease in its...

Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development

Publié en ligne: 31 juil. 2021

Pages: 169 - 179

Reçu: 09 févr. 2021

Accepté: 08 juin 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2021-0017

Mots clés
bird of prey, feeding landscape management, population density, restitution,

© 2021 Peter Petluš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Impact of management measures on the European ground squirrel population development

Publié en ligne: 31 juil. 2021

Pages: 169 - 179

Reçu: 09 févr. 2021

Accepté: 08 juin 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2021-0017

Mots clésbird of prey, feeding landscape management, population density, restitution,

© 2021 Peter Petluš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
bird of prey, feeding landscape management, population density, restitution,