Local-scale habitat configuration makes a niche for wildlife encroaching into an urban landscape: grubbing sites of wild boar Sus scrofa in a city matrix

Abstract Urban environments may offer certain species diverse and abundant food resources of natural anthropogenic origin. However, the local-scale configuration habitats urban infrastructure influence foraging decisions regardless availability food. In recent years, expansion wild boar Sus scrofa into areas significantly transformed by humans has been observed in many parts its range. Grubbing (rooting) is a major mode species, during which disturbance upper soil layers enables these animals to find consume items. factors that determine selection grubbing sites landscape, where balance between avoidance decisions, are not known. Our aim was identify site size grubbed patches an landscape. The characteristics 108 city Kraków (Poland) were compared randomly selected control sites. probable presence positively correlated with proportion meadows fallow land vicinity increases both canopy cover distance pavements. patch percentage vicinity, increasing buildings decreasing We found non-random pattern landscape indicated vegetation contribute boar. study highlights encroachment wildlife complex process, driven resource human-related disturbances.