The level of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in cervids as a key to assessing their welfare

Cervids are a group of animals that are particularly sensitive to negative stimuli from the environment. Undoubtedly, hunting is one of the factors that negatively affect the welfare of game animals. The aim of the study was to analyze the fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) of cervids in order to assess the level of welfare of red deer, European roe deer, fallow deer, and Eurasian elk during the non-hunting period. The average concentration of glucocorticosteroid metabolites in the feces of all cervids was 9.849 ng/g. The values ranged from 11.311 ng/g (Capreolus capreolus) to 8.536 ng/g (Dama dama). It was shown that the welfare of cervids in the study area was maintained during the non-hunting period. This research may be an introduction to further analyses and may contribute to discussion on the desirability of including the assessment of animal welfare in the management of wild animal populations in Poland.