Evidence of necrophagous behaviour has been reported for 8.43% of nocturnal raptors. To determine whether preys were captured alive or consumed as carrion is challenging, as the diet of Strigiformes is mainly studied through pellet analysis, rather than direct observation. The diet of the long-eared owl Asio otus has been widely studied all over the distribution range of this species, but proven evidence of this feeding habit is still lacking. We collected 106 pellets under a suburban dormitory in Southern Tuscany (Central Italy) between December 2012 and April 2013. Prey remains (skulls, mandibles) were compared with a specific atlas. Four fragments of crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) quills and a jawbone of Martes sp. were found in pellets collected after a snowfall (20-40 cm in depth). Although voles and mice constituted the staple of the diet of this species, accordingly with previous studies, these findings represent the first proof of carrion consumption by the long-eared owl. Body sizes of crested porcupine and Martes sp,, as well as the defence behaviour of the rodent, rule out a direct predation by the owl. Our study enlarges the trophic spectrum of the long-eared owl, thus adding a further dimension to the behavioural plasticity of this species.

Context. The ranges of many small, at-risk felid species occur almost entirely in unprotected areas, where research efforts are minimal; hence data on their density and activity patterns are scare. Aims. We estimated density and activity patterns of Pallas’s cats on unprotected lands in central Mongolia during two periods (May–August and September–November) in 2019. Methods. We used spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate population density at 15.2±4.8 individuals per 100 km2. Key results. We obtained 484 Pallas’s cat images from 153 detections during 4266 camera-days. We identified Pallas’s cats using pelage markings and identified 16 individuals from 64 detections. Pallas’s cat activity was consistent between the two survey periods (~0.50), with cats mainly active during crepuscular hours in the first period and strictly diurnal in the second. Conclusions. We provide the first estimation of a Pallas’s cat population density using camera-trapping. Compared with other methods used, densities were high in our study area, which was likely to be due to a combination of highly suitable habitat and abundant prey. Seasonal shifts in the activity patterns of Pallas’s cats indicated a likely adaptive response to reduced risk of depredation by raptors. Implications. We recommend August to November as the best time for camera-trapping surveys for Pallas’s cats, given their high daily activity and the easiest interpretation of images used for individual identification collected during this time. We also suggest that future camera-trapping surveys of Pallas’s cat be mindful of potential camera-trap avoidance through time.

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