Return of wildcats to South West England found to be feasible

A new report suggests the South West of England could once again support European wildcats, more than 100 years after the species disappeared from the region.

The two-year study, carried out by the South West Wildcat Project, found a sustainable population could flourish and that most local people are positive about reintroduction.

Surveys conducted by the University of Exeter found 71 per cent of 1,000 respondents and 83 per cent of 1,425 online respondents supported the idea.

The project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust in partnership with Forestry England and the Derek Gow Consultancy. It examined four areas of potential impact: people and communities, other wildlife, farming livestock and pets, and the long-term sustainability of a wildcat population.

The full report is available at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/south-west-wildcat-project

European wildcats, historically known as “woodcats”, were once widespread across the South West, as well as other parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

Centuries of persecution, along with the loss and fragmentation of woodland and rough grassland habitats, led to their disappearance. The last wildcats in the South West are thought to have survived until the mid-19th century.

Cath Jeffs, South West Wildcat Project lead at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s exciting that this report suggests wildcats could be part of the region’s nature once again. The return of this critically endangered species would be another step in the restoration of our native wildlife and will help re-balance local ecosystems.

Wildcats were once a widespread part of our countryside and today they remain an important part of woodlands throughout continental Europe including Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

A lot of work remains to be done before the first wildcats could be released in the South West. Honest and open dialogue with stakeholders will be key to making sure the species and local communities could thrive alongside one another in the future.”

Currently, the UK’s only remaining wildcats live in the Scottish Highlands. Despite receiving protected status in 1988, they are classed as “critically endangered”, with as few as 115 individuals remaining in the wild. The Saving Wildcats project, launched in 2020, aims to boost their numbers.

The South West Wildcat Project was set up in 2023 to explore the feasibility of reintroduction. The report highlights mid Devon as a particularly suitable area, with enough woodland cover connected by other habitats to sustain a population.

The study found wildcats pose no significant threat to endangered wildlife such as bats or dormice, and their diet – 75 per cent small mammals including voles, rats, wood mice and rabbits – could help restore balance to local ecosystems.

Wildcats also present no danger to people, pets, or livestock, with poultry easily protected using standard measures for foxes.

The report identified two key challenges. Hybridisation with domestic and feral cats could threaten the genetic security of wildcats, requiring neutering programmes in release areas.

The project also emphasised the importance of ongoing engagement with local communities and stakeholders, including monitoring and management post-release.

Abby Parravani, Forest Planner at Forestry England, said: “Forestry England is proud to be a partner in the pioneering South West Wildcat Project. I’m thrilled that the feasibility report shows the suitability of South West England to reintroduce this missing native species, contributing to the restoration of ecosystems across this landscape. We’re looking forward to the next phase of the project as we move one step closer to returning wildcats to the South West.”

Dr Roger Auster, Lecturer in Environmental Social Science at the University of Exeter, said: “From both in-person research with stakeholder representatives and public surveys, we found there to be broad support for the idea of wildcat reintroduction, yet with need to understand more about wildcats and the role they play in local ecosystems. With the meaningful involvement of stakeholders during planning, we conclude that wildcat reintroduction is socially viable."

While there are no immediate plans to release wildcats, Devon Wildlife Trust and its partners are committed to developing reintroduction plans and securing funding to give the project the best chance of success.