Mortality parameters of the wolf in Italy: does the wolf keep himself from the door

• Published in: Journal of zoology (1987) Vol. 272; no. 2; pp. 117 - 124
• Main Authors: Lovari, S, Sforzi, A, Scala, C, Fico, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animal populations; Animal reproduction; Canis lupus; Mortality; population structure; reproduction; road kills; survivorship; Wolves; Zoology; Italy
• ISSN: 0952-8369; 1469-7998
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00260.x

Information on population parameters is rarely collected from carcasses. This method can be particularly useful - with limitations - when protected species are involved (e.g. the grey wolf Canis lupus in Italy). Local data on population structure, reproduction, survivorship and causes of mortality are necessary to build reliable conservation models to assess the state of a population and to predict its evolution. On the other hand, 'best guesses' or data from ecologically different areas have often been used to build population viability analysis and other conservation-oriented models. A sample of 154 wolf carcasses was found, collected and analysed from 1991 to 2001 in central-eastern Italy, the historic core of the wolf distribution range. Collision with a vehicle was the main cause of death in both sexes; however, road kills may be biased with a greater detectability, and we treated our data accordingly. Road kills were concentrated on the younger (