Feeding habits of stone martens in a Hungarian village and its surroundings

Lanszki, József (2003) Feeding habits of stone martens in a Hungarian village and its surroundings. FOLIA ZOOLOGICA, 52 (4). pp. 367-377. ISSN 0139-7893

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Abstract

The feeding habits of the stone marten (Martes foina) were studied by scat analysis in a village (n = 423 samples) and its surrounding agricultural environment (n = 572), during a six-year study (three periods), in southwest Hungary. Birds (relative frequency 20%, mainly small perching birds) and plants (35%, mainly orchard fruit) were the most important foods for the martens living in the village. Small mammals (29%, mainly votes) and plants (34%, mainly fruit) were the main food resources for the stone martens living in the agricultural environment. With respect to diet composition environment-dependent difference proved significant, but intra-environment difference did not. In comparison with those living in the agricultural environment the stone martens studied living in the village consumed more frequently: 1) heavier prey (greater consumption of domestic animals), 2) arboreal prey (e.g. birds) and 3) prey associated with human settlements (e.g. house mouse, house sparrow, domestic animals).

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