habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Cape Grey Mongooses have a wide habitat tolerance, although they are essentially found in Karoo and karroid bushveld and sclerophyllous scrub (Cavallini 2013). They are often associated with refuge areas, such as dense bushes and rocky outcrops, and avoid open fields with short vegetation, where they are easily spotted and thus vulnerable to predation by larger carnivores (Caracal Caracal caracal, Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas, etc.; E. Do Linh San & M.J. Somers unpubl. data) and large birds of prey (Cavallini & Nel 1990a). They appear to avoid moist and wet high forests (Crawford et al. 1983). They are essentially terrestrial, but readily climb bushes and tree trunks, which they occasionally use to defecate (latrines) or rest during the day (Photo 1). In the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, some radio-tracked individuals used riverine forests as nocturnal shelter â sleeping in hollow Cape Bushwillow (Combretum caffrum) trees â and as foraging grounds during the day (E. Do Linh San & M.J. Somers unpubl. data). Cape Grey Mongooses otherwise use dense bushes or rock crevices to sleep during the night. They are not fossorial but may occasionally use burrows dug by other species. They are sometimes seen close to human settlements, foraging in gardens and on food scraps, and sleeping in attics (E. Do Linh San pers. obs. 2006; Cavallini 2013).The Cape Grey Mongoose is essentially a diurnal species, with timing of onset and end of activity generally correlated with sunrise and sunset (E. Do Linh San & M.J. Somers unpubl. data). Longer activity periods and higher activity levels are recorded in summer, while activity is more restricted in winter. Cape Grey Mongooses are also less active under rainy and cold weather conditions, which likely reduce prey activity and therefore availability. They have a catholic diet, though their primary food is generally small mammals â Rhabdomys spp., Otomys spp. and Grammomys spp. have been recorded as the most common prey species â and insects (du Toit 1980; Stuart 1981, 1991; MacDonald & Nel 1986; Cavallini & Nel 1990b; Avenant & Nel 1997; Stuart & Stuart 1998; Mbatyoti 2010), and readily kill snakes (Branch & Hanekom 1987). They have also been reported feeding on larger mammals such as Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) and hares (Lepus spp.) (Cavallini 1992; Stuart & Stuart 1998), although this probably mostly takes place through scavenging, as directly observed with hares (E. Do Linh San pers. obs. 2007; Photo 2).
The Cape Grey Mongoose is regarded as a solitary species, but groups of two, three and up to five individuals have been observed (Stuart 1981, 1991). Groups often comprise one adult female and her offspring, sometimes with the presence of a second adult.
Male home range size in the West Coast National Park varied from 52 to 92 ha (Cavallini & Nel 1990a). Female home range size is likely smaller, as suggested by the case of one radio-tracked female who ranged over 31 ha. Juveniles may, however, move over much larger areas (Cavallini & Nel 1990a). Home range overlap has been recorded in both males and females (Cavallini & Nel 1990a; Stuart 1991). As observed in the Slender Mongoose (Waser et al. 1994), males exhibit some degree of tolerance or sociality, with two or three males of different sizes (and likely ages) ranging over a common area, although rarely sharing the same nocturnal resting site (Cavallini & Nel 1990a; E. Do Linh San & M.J. Somers unpubl. data).
The breeding season probably runs from June to December, as lactating females have been observed in August and from November to February (Stuart 1981; Lynch 1983). Litter size is 1â3 pups; it is unknown whether females can have two litters per breeding season. Pups are often reared in rock crevices, hollow trees, wood piles or farm outbuildings. Life expectancy in captivity is more than 11 years (Weigl 2005).
Ecosystem and cultural services: Like other small carnivores, the Cape Grey Mongoose may predate on pest species, such as rodents and insects (e.g. Cavallini & Nel 1990b; Mbatyoti 2010).
