Wildcats in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are thriving once more, with an estimated 1000 roaming the region. Despite patchy evidence in certain areas, the trend of the wildcat's resurgence is undeniable. This uptick is also being observed in other federal states across Germany.
A significant development in this regard is the successful return of the European wildcat to the forests nearby Waldbröl, Oberberg district, marking a 70-year absence. Similarly, wildcat offspring were detected this year in Aachen's city forest, thanks to the aid of a camera.
Wildcats are carnivores, primarily feeding on mice, which in turn reduces the mouse population. This helps promote the growth of tree offspring. Katharina Stenglein, project coordinator for wildcats at environmental organization BUND NRW, explains that wildcats prefer old deciduous and mixed forests, as well as quiet thickets and waterholes, and require a sufficient supply of natural hiding places for roosting and rearing their young.
The State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection in NRW highlights the necessity of large, contiguous forests for the wildcat's survival. Wildcats thrive in areas rich in old deciduous and mixed forests, edge habitats, windthrow areas, and forest edges. Preferred feeding locations for wildcats are forest edges, forest clearings or meadows, and fields close to forests.
After a drastic decline in the wildcat population during the 20th century, the species has managed to recolonize various territories and environments. The Eifel region, Sauerland, Egge, and Oberwälder Bergland in Höxter district are among the main distribution areas for wildcats in NRW.
Wildcats roam extensive territories in their habitats, with adult cats covering an average of three kilometers per night in summer and up to eleven kilometers per night in winter. Collaborating with BUND, the Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz NRW is working on various measures to support the reintroduction of wildcats, including the placement of woodpiles for breeding and the planting of rare tree species to encourage migration.
Aside from NRW, wildcats are also spreading in the Eifel region of Brandenburg, which the State Forestry and Timber Agency recognizes as one of Germany's main distribution areas for the species.
It's important to note that the distinction between domestic and wild cats should be made carefully. The spokeswoman for the responsible state office in NRW emphasizes that wild cats have distinct tail features, such as broad and clearly defined black rings on the black bushy tail unlike that of stray cats.
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Enrichment Data: Regulations related to stray and feral cats in Germany (described in the Enrichment Data above) might indirectly impact wildcat conservation efforts, given their commonalities in habitat and prey. However, further sources specific to wildcat conservation in Germany would be needed for a thorough analysis.
