Home ranges of feral cats at Avonmouth Docks (United Kingdom).

The feral cat population at a 178 ha dockland site was studied for eighteen months using direct observation assisted by radio-tracking. Though food appeared to be abundant and widely distributed, the population density was low (10-15 adults/km2). Home ranges were similar for males and females, and were much smaller (15 +/- 17 ha and 10 +/- 7 ha, respectively) than would be expected from the low density. The implications of the findings for feral cat control were discussed, with particular emphasis on rabies emergency measures.