Toads Bufo spp. in the diets of mustelid predators in Belarus

Abstract

Amphibians were important prey to the European mink Mustela lutreola, the American mink M. vison, polecat M. putorius, river otter Lutra lutra, and badger Meles meles, and formed a minor component of the food taken by stoat Mustela erminea, weasel M. nivalis, and pine marten Martes martes. Mink and otter strongly selected for frogs Rana spp. and avoided toads Bufo spp. However, the common toad can be an important prey for semiaquatic mustelids under unfavourable feeding conditions. Toads (mainly Bufo bufo, and rarely B. viridis) also occurred in significant numbers in the diets of polecats and badgers, which seemed to prey on frogs and toads with no clear selection.