Killing techniques differ among different groups of carnivores. Since felids are mostly solitary ... more Killing techniques differ among different groups of carnivores. Since felids are mostly solitary hunters, each bite must be made with precision, and must be positioned to kill the prey as soon as possible to avoid possible risks to the predator during the struggle (1). It has been previ-ously reported that felids kill mainly by suffocation caused by a bite into the throat or muzzle, or by severing the spinal cord with a bite into the nape (2-5). Leyhausen (3) noted that the throat bites are more likely when killing larger prey. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) are the main predators of ungulates in Europe. When attacking large prey, the lynx usually kills it with a neck bite, either from below, or from above into the nape (6; 7). So far the majority of
Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been no... more Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been noted over the past 30 years, the group is still understudied. Here we present results of the nine-year trapping and information on abundance and community assemblage of small mammals of Goteniska gora, a mountain in southern Slovenia. Trappings were conducted every September from 2002 to 2010. Traps were set in different habitats, ranging from open-space meadows and stony karst areas to dense fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum). At least 12 different species constituted local communities, mostly resembling central European deciduous and mixed forest communities. Some representatives of Alpine small mammal communities and a Pleistocene relict were also present.
Prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was investigat... more Prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was investigated in wild-living European wildcats (Felis silvestris) in Slovenia. Seventeen blood samples of 15 wildcats (13 males and two females, two recaptures—1 and 1.5 years after capture) were collected between August 1999 and April 2006. Wildcats were anesthetized using ketamine and medetomidine. Specific antibodies against FIV and FeLV antigens
Hematological, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis values were determined for nine (two females an... more Hematological, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis values were determined for nine (two females and seven males) adult, free-living European wildcats (Felis silvestris) in the Kocevje Forests of the southern Slovenia. Samples were collected from August 1999 to March 2001. Cats were anesthetized with ketamine and medetomidine. Blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture and urine samples by bladder puncture. A control group of domestic cats (F. silvestris catus) was assembled to determine if differences exist among blood and urine values between free-living European wildcats and domestic cats. Hematological, biochemical, and urine parameters were similar to those of the control group. Values of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, mean corpuscular value, basophile count, and alanine aminotransferase were significantly higher than values of the control group. All urine samples contained white blood cells and proteins, and seven of them contained red blood cells.
Killing techniques differ among different groups of carnivores. Since felids are mostly solitary ... more Killing techniques differ among different groups of carnivores. Since felids are mostly solitary hunters, each bite must be made with precision, and must be positioned to kill the prey as soon as possible to avoid possible risks to the predator during the struggle (1). It has been previ-ously reported that felids kill mainly by suffocation caused by a bite into the throat or muzzle, or by severing the spinal cord with a bite into the nape (2-5). Leyhausen (3) noted that the throat bites are more likely when killing larger prey. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) are the main predators of ungulates in Europe. When attacking large prey, the lynx usually kills it with a neck bite, either from below, or from above into the nape (6; 7). So far the majority of
Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been no... more Although a considerable improvement in knowledge about small mammal fauna in Slovenia has been noted over the past 30 years, the group is still understudied. Here we present results of the nine-year trapping and information on abundance and community assemblage of small mammals of Goteniska gora, a mountain in southern Slovenia. Trappings were conducted every September from 2002 to 2010. Traps were set in different habitats, ranging from open-space meadows and stony karst areas to dense fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum). At least 12 different species constituted local communities, mostly resembling central European deciduous and mixed forest communities. Some representatives of Alpine small mammal communities and a Pleistocene relict were also present.
Prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was investigat... more Prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was investigated in wild-living European wildcats (Felis silvestris) in Slovenia. Seventeen blood samples of 15 wildcats (13 males and two females, two recaptures—1 and 1.5 years after capture) were collected between August 1999 and April 2006. Wildcats were anesthetized using ketamine and medetomidine. Specific antibodies against FIV and FeLV antigens
Hematological, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis values were determined for nine (two females an... more Hematological, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis values were determined for nine (two females and seven males) adult, free-living European wildcats (Felis silvestris) in the Kocevje Forests of the southern Slovenia. Samples were collected from August 1999 to March 2001. Cats were anesthetized with ketamine and medetomidine. Blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture and urine samples by bladder puncture. A control group of domestic cats (F. silvestris catus) was assembled to determine if differences exist among blood and urine values between free-living European wildcats and domestic cats. Hematological, biochemical, and urine parameters were similar to those of the control group. Values of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, mean corpuscular value, basophile count, and alanine aminotransferase were significantly higher than values of the control group. All urine samples contained white blood cells and proteins, and seven of them contained red blood cells.
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