Wild Cat Health Project - Scat Research Update

Human disturbances to wildlife habitats such as urban and road development, pose significant threats to both wildlife and human communities. Habitat fragmentation forces large carnivores like pumas (Puma concolor) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) to navigate human-dominated landscapes, increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts and disease transmission at the urban edge. Wild felids can carry zoonotic diseases and contract parasites and viruses from domestic animals, presenting serious public health risks due to potential spillover between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.

Recognizing this interconnectedness, Felidae employs a One-Health approach through the Wild Cat Health Project (WCHP) to non-invasively collect health and movement data on wild cats through fecal sample (scat) surveys and remote camera array monitoring. The WCHP focuses on understanding the impact of urbanization on wild cat health and the consequences for domestic animal and human health, particularly concerning zoonotic spillover. This project aims to bridge the gap between wildlife conservation and public health, promoting a holistic understanding of ecosystem health.

The WCHP began in 2022, and surveys were conducted in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area across diverse land types, including private property, National Parks, State Parks, County Parks, and more. Scat detection dogs surveyed transects in and around open spaces within San Mateo and Marin counties. Samples collected were sent to various university lab partners for analysis of parasites, stress hormones, poisons, and toxins. Additionally, DNA from scat samples helped determine the number of distinct wild felid individuals, their sex and their relatedness via genetic testing.

Analysis of scat samples

An early focus was testing scat samples for exposure to various parasites, including Toxoplasmosis, a parasite known to alter dopamine levels and increase risky behavior in infected individuals. In domestic cats, Toxoplasmosis infection can diminish their fear of predators, making them more susceptible to predation by wild felids and thereby elevating the risk of disease transmission among pumas, pets, and humans. Several samples from the two years of fecal surveys tested positive for Toxoplasmosis, highlighting this concern. Our 2023 fecal samples were also analyzed for cortisol, a key stress hormone, revealing high levels across most samples. This suggests compromised immune systems among the wild cats surveyed. Additionally, testing for anticoagulant rodenticides in our samples showed significant levels of now-banned rodenticides, which pose lethal risks to many wildlife species, because they weaken immune response by preventing blood clotting. When the immune system is weakened, affected species become more susceptible to diseases like notoedric mange (or feline scabies), a disease that often leads to a slow, painful death without treatment.

Findings to Date

In 2023, the survey covered 179 km, expanding our overall sampling coverage from the previous year. 2023 samples were sent to several university partner labs for analysis of parasites, stress hormones, anticoagulant rodenticides, and genotyping.

• Parasites: Felids are definitive hosts of the parasite Toxoplasmosis, which is particularly prevalent among domestic cats. Several fecal samples tested positive for the parasite in 2023, suggesting a considerable overlap between domestic cats and wild felids at the urban edge. These findings underscore the risk of zoonotic disease transmission between pumas, pets, and people as a threat to public health.
• Stress Hormones: High cortisol levels measured in our 2023 samples from across the Bay Area are consistent with stress levels observed in other felid species.
• Rodenticides: Lab results from 2022 samples revealed significant levels of lethal anticoagulant rodenticides now banned in California. Select puma fecal samples from 2023 tested positive for different rodenticides than those observed in 2022, indicating persistent environmental contamination over time.
• Genotyping: Of the confirmed puma samples collected in the initial two years, genetic analysis identified 10 distinct individuals with nine pairs of full siblings. For bobcat samples, one pair of full siblings was found.

Wild Cat Health Project 2024 

A third field survey is planned for August 2024 and aims to further increase sampling coverage and test for additional health metrics. Specific plans include:

• Survey Expansion: Increased coverage in Marin and San Mateo Counties and added surveys in East Bay Hills and Orange County.
• Collaborations: Continued partnerships with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Michigan State University, University of South Dakota, Oregon State University, and new collaboration with Texas State University for testing heavy metal exposure.
• Sample Collection: Bobcat scat will be collected opportunistically, undergoing the same rigorous analysis as puma scats.

The Wild Cat Health Project works to enhance our understanding of the effects of urbanization on the health of humans, domestic animals, and wild felids living at the urban edge. If you have questions about WCHP and Felidae Conservation Fund’s ongoing research efforts, reach out to us -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..