A morphological and molecular approach confirms Italian wolf Canis lupus italicus predation on alien invasive species in the Po Plain and supports its role in providing ecosystem services

The Italian wolf Canis lupus italicus faced near extinction in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to extensive persecution, habitat degradation, and prey depletion. Over the past 50 years, conservation efforts, legal protection, and habitat recovery have supported a resurgence, with recent estimates placing the population at approximately 3,300 individuals. Wolves have expanded into lowlands, plains, and coastal areas, including the highly anthropised Po Plain. This expansion intensifies human-wildlife conflicts, particularly in livestock farming and hunting. The invasive coypu (Myocastor coypus) and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) have inflicted considerable ecological and economic damage in northern Italy. These populations are poorly controlled due to their ecological plasticity and lack of natural predators. Given the adaptability of wolves and their opportunistic diet, this study investigates whether they could become a significant prey species for wolves in plains environments, potentially contributing to their control while mitigating livestock predation. Through genetic analysis, scat morphology, and camera trapping, this study confirms the presence of coypu in the diet of a wolf pack in the Torrile and Trecasali Natural Reserve. These findings highlight the potential ecological role of wolves as indirect allies in managing invasive species, which could help alleviate economic and physical damage to agriculture and riverbanks, fostering more positive public attitudes and greater acceptance of the species.