The rhythm of the night: patterns of activity of the European wildcat in the Italian peninsula

Abstract The European wildcat is a threatened carnivore, whose ecology still scarcely studied, especially in Mediterranean areas. In this study, we estimated activity rhythm patterns of felid, by means camera-trapping at three spatial scales: (i) whole country (Italy); (ii) biogeographical areas; (iii) latitudinal zones. rhythms were also calculated according to temporal (1) warm semester; (2) cold semester and (3) seasonal scales. Lastly, tested whether the effect moon phases affected activity. We conducted analysis on total 975 independent events collected 2009–2021, from 285 locations, ~ 65,800 camera days. showed that Italy exhibits > 70% nocturnal behaviour, with 20% diurnal activity, all scales, throughout year, peaks 10.00 p.m. 04.00 a.m. observed high overlap between different was mainly active darkest nights, reducing its bright moonlight nights. Diurnal greater months decreased distance shrubs woodlands, most likely main prey, water presence summer, care offspring availability shelter sites. Conversely, paved roads seems have no significant effects suggesting that, natural shelters, probably may tolerate these infrastructures. suggested limited plasticity wildcat, emphasizing importance dark hours for species.