March 31, 2023, 4:13 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The European wildcat is a shy forest dweller and was nearly extinct in this country for a time. Now, more of these cats are roaming our forests again. How did the European wildcat make its comeback?
At first glance, you might mistake it for a particularly robust house cat: The European wildcat has reddish-brown, cream to gray fur, a blurred stripe pattern, and a bushy tail. However, it is a distinct species—and a wild animal that will never be tamed. In the early 20th century, the European wildcat was nearly extinct in many regions of Germany. People hunted the small predator intensively, seeing it as a competitor for food. There were even rumors that wildcats would kill deer. Only a few animals survived, secluded deep in the forest, until hunting wildcats was finally banned in the 1930s. Since then, the populations have been recovering. PETBOOK reveals how the return of the European wildcat to Germany was achieved.
Pathways for the European Wildcat Provide Protection
Today, European wildcats are no longer specifically targeted. However, these wild animals still fall victim to hunters who mistake the small tigers for feral house cats. Some animals also perish in traps. The biggest obstacle to the cat’s return, however, is the fragmentation of its habitat. The shy wild animal needs quiet, natural forests to hunt and raise its young undisturbed. When roads cut through the wildcat’s territory, many animals fall victim to traffic.
Since the 1990s, animal conservationists have been studying the migratory behavior of the European wildcat. Their findings help ensure the species’ survival: By strategically planting trees and shrubs, efforts are made to create so-called “green corridors.” These connect isolated forest patches to form larger, contiguous forest areas. They are intended to enable the wild cats to explore new habitats.
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More Wildcats in Germany Again
The efforts of conservationists are showing results. While the wildcat population in Germany was estimated at 1,700 to 5,000 individuals in 2000, it is now believed to be up to 7,000. European wildcats have now been detected in almost all federal states. The most important distribution areas include Hainich National Park and Bavarian Forest National Park. But there are also significant populations in the Harz, Siebengebirge, and Palatinate Forest.
Despite these successes, the species is still considered endangered in Germany. According to Section 7 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), the European wildcat is one of the strictly protected species and remains on the Red List of endangered animal and plant species. This means specifically: The animals may not be hunted or disturbed. Additionally, their resting places must not be destroyed or damaged.
Natural Forests for the European Wildcat
Further nature and species conservation programs are now intended to help the wild cat establish itself further in Germany. This includes the “Wildcat Forests of Tomorrow” project by the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment.
Verena Graichen, the deputy chairwoman of BUND, explains in a press release: “The diverse habitats of the European wildcat are refuges of biodiversity. Where the cat feels at home, other threatened animals such as the Bechstein’s bat, fire salamander, and middle spotted woodpecker also thrive. Together with local partners, we are therefore enhancing forests, forest edges, clearings, and meadows at the forest.”
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Sources
- Nrw.nabu.de, “The Wildcat” (accessed on 03/28/2023)
- Deutschlandfunk.de, “The Return of the Wildcat in Germany” (accessed on 03/28/2023)
- Bund-naturschutz.de, “The European Wildcat: Profile” (accessed on 03/28/2023)
- Bund-hessen.de, “Endangered Wildcat and Wild Kittens” (accessed on 03/28/2023)