Feral cats on Stewart Island; their foods, and their effects on kakapo

Abstract

Abstract The foods of feral house cats ( Felis catus ) on Stewart Island were determined by examining 229 scats collected during surveys of the distribution and numbers of kakapo ( Strigops habroptilus) , an endangered ground‐parrot species. Rats occurred in 93% of the scats, birds in 44. 1%, wetas (large orthopterans) in 26.2%, and lizards in 24.0%. Twelve (70.6%) of the 17 species of birds were native. Kakapo remains were found in 6 (5.1%) of the 118 scats collected from areas where kakapo have been recorded.