The edible dormouse (Glis glis) is an important species in the forests of the Dinaric Alps, playing multiple roles in the ecosystem. They serve as prey for many animal species, act as predators of smaller animals and seeds of tree species. They inhabit and hide in so-called "polšine." Polšine are underground cavities that lead into the karst underground or between the roots of large trees. The aim of the research was to study the species diversity and behavioral patterns of wild animals at the entrances to polšine to gain a better understanding of predators of dormouse. From 2021 to 2023, we continuously monitored the entrances of 10 polšine, except during winter, using camera traps in the area from Podpeč to Krim (Slovenia). This method was chosen because it allows for non-invasive monitoring of wildlife in their natural environment over an extended period. The images were reviewed and analyzed using Microsoft Access and Excel. The data were also used to analyze behavioral patterns by hierarchical clustering. We focused on the target species (the dormouse), its potential predators (e.g., wild and domestic cats, stone and pine marten, fox), as well as other animal species (e.g., roe deer, red deer, small rodent species) and described their behavior, as well as their seasonal and daily activity patterns. After conducting the analyses, we confirmed that predators behave differently near polšine compared to other species. Predators use sites before near polšine with the intent of dormouse hunting, as indicated by their dominant behaviors (waiting, alertness, monitoring the polšina entrance), whereas other species were present there coincidentally while passing through, using polšine as shelter, or out of curiosity. Activity around polšine was highest during the summer and autumn. Both dormice and their predators were primarily nocturnal, as predators follow their prey. However, no synchronization with dormouse activity was observed in other species.
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