Hopes wildcats could return to West Country woodlands

WILDCATS could make a comeback in the West Country after a two-year study found there was enough habitat and widespread local support for their reintroduction.

- EMILY BEAMENT

Wildcats mainly prey on small rodents

(Tom Mason/Devon Wildlife Trust)

Conservationists said the South West contains sufficient woodland connected by other suitable habitat to support a thriving population of wildcats - with an area across mid-Devon as potentially the best spot for reintroductions.

Independent research found that about 70%-80% of people in the region were positive towards the reintroduction of the UK's most threatened mammal to an area where they once roamed.

It also found wildcats posed no significant risk to existing endangered wildlife populations such as bats and hazel dormice, and no threat to people, pets or lambs while poultry could be protected in the same way as from foxes.

But wildlife experts said "a lot of work remains to be done" before the first wildcats could be released, with a focus on talking to local people to make sure the animals and communities can thrive alongside each other in the future.

A reintroduction would likely see at least 50 wildcats released over a period of time.