Association BIOM conducted project referring to small mammals fauna in selected sites in Hrvatsko Zagorje during September and October 2012. Small mammals included rodents (order Rodentia) and insectivores (order Insectivora) with maximum weight of 1 kilo, excluding bats (order Chiroptera). The target group is not a systematic group but group of species with similar ecology niche what allow as to use same determination methodology.
Main goal of the project was to determine distribution of small mammal species focusing on protected and endangered ones in the area of Maceljska Gora, Ravna Gora and Ivančica. Target species were: Southern Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus), Euroasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens), Euroasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Euroasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus), Forest Dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and Fat Dormouse (Glis glis).
We confirmed 13 species of small mammals and 4 species of carnivores – Stone Marten (Martes foina), Ermine (Mustela erminea), European Polecat (Mustela putorius) and Wild Cat (Felis silvestris). In total, we recorded 160 individuals of small mammals, 30 small mammal’s nests, 3 molehill areas and 5 individuals of carnivore species.
We would like to thank Ivica Sever and Hunters society “Macelj” for technical support.
