Situación actual y evolución de la población de turón (Mustela putorius L., 1758) en Catalunya: 1950-2008

Abstract

We compiled 127 records and 22 tracks of polecats in Catalunya, obtained in last 50 years, on 81 UTM 10x10 km squares, mainly in Girona province. The sights and road casualties were the 41.2% (18,1% sights and 33,1% road casualties) of records. Besides, 105 UTM 10x10 km squares were trapped in Catalunya, with the aim to capture polecats, American minks and European minks, 92 and only polecat were captured in one square. In 2001 three male polecats were radiotracked in Natural Park of Aiguamolls del Empordà and the use of time and space were studied. We took 624 locations (124 of position and 416 of activity). Males were clearly nocturne, with activity between 19:00 h and 09:00 h, and a maximum of activity (45-85%) between 20:00 h and 03:00 h. Home range of three male was of 0.91, 4.45 y 3.40 km2 (MPC 100%). Their core area (MPC al 50%) was the 16-18% of home range. We carried out 13 nocturnal radio-trackings to three males. Average distance of daily movements of three males was of 645, 790 and 465 m.