Survey of mammals in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio (Chioggia, province of Venezia, NE Italy)

Mammals were surveyed in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bosco Nordio, from March to No-vember 2015. The survey was performed using infrared camera traps and dogs trained to search signs and tracks of wild animals. Overall, during the survey, were detected 12 species: West European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, European mole, Talpa europaea, Udine shrew, Sorex arunchi, European hare, Lepus europaeus, long-tailed field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, red fox, Vulpes vulpes, beech marten, Martes foina, least weasel, Mustela nivalis, European badger, Meles meles, e fallow deer, Dama dama. The research allowed to update the checklist of the species present in the protected area, and to spot the striped field mouse in a new site of the Venetian Po plane. Moreover, the survey permitted us to achieve a better knowledge of the distribution of badgers, fallow deers and foxes, through the development of specific concentration maps (Kernel Density Estimation). By overlapping the concentration maps and the Habitats map of the SCI/SPA IT3250032 it has been possible to determine the habitats of greater occurrence of badger, fox and fallow deer, and calculate their relative percentage with respect to the total surface occupied in the whole protected area. The information obtained through this study is important for future management planning consistent with the necessities of protection and conservation of the resident species.