Darcy Watchorn

and 4 more

In many parts of the world, climate change is increasing the likelihood of severe wildfire in protected areas, while planned burns are occurring more frequently in an attempt to manage risk. These fires shape animal communities by altering resource availability and species interactions, including between predators and prey. In Australia, there is particular concern that native prey species may experience elevated post-fire predation by introduced feral cats (Felis catus) and European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). We tested how a prescribed fire, vegetation, and other habitat variables affected the activity of cats, foxes, and the native mammal community in southeastern Australia. We used camera traps to quantify mammal activity before and after a prescribed burn, and statistically tested how the fire interacted with key habitat variables to affect mammal activity. We found little evidence that the prescribed fire influenced the activity of cats and foxes and no evidence of an effect on macropod or small mammal (<800 g) activity. Medium-sized mammals (800–2,000 g) were negatively associated with prescribed fire extent. The lack of response of cats and foxes to the prescribed burn is a positive outcome from a fire management perspective. Nonetheless, we recommend future experiments use GPS trackers to record fine-scale movements of cats, foxes, and their native prey in temperate ecosystems immediately following prescribed fires the best inform effective management within protected areas.