Considerazioni sull’uso del pellet group count nella determinazione della densità del capriolo (Capreolus capreolus L.) e sua applicazione in un’area delle Alpi Cozie (Italia)

In the last decades the roe deer populations have progressively increased in many Italian regions. As a consequence we assist to an intensifi cation of their interactions with human activities. A correct management of this species has therefore become extremely important, and requires the development of more accurate methods for population densities estimation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of pellet group count in the Po Valley (Monte Bracco, Cottian Alps, Piedmont, NW Italy). The high percentage of forest cover in this area makes unaccurate the classic direct observation census. The counts of pellet groups were carried out along transects of variable length and width, according to the standing crop line transect count method. Population estimates in two different sampling areas were really interesting, suggesting that this technique could be widely used when direct census techniques are not applicable.