European wildcat reclaims Saarland's forests as experts prepare for conservation conference

Population recovery

The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) has staged a quiet comeback in Germany's smallest state. Martin Lillig, a biogeographer and wildcat expert with BUND Saarland, says the species was never fully extinct in the region but remained "extremely rare" through the 1980s. By the early 2000s, sightings were concentrated in the Hunsrück, Warndt and Bliesgau areas. Today, the cat is present in almost all of Saarland's forests, including a well-frequented urban recreation area on the edge of Saarbrücken. BUND estimates the population at a minimum of 500 animals.

Monitoring the elusive cat

Because wildcats are nocturnal and notoriously shy, traditional camera traps often fail to distinguish them from domestic cats. Lillig describes the standard survey technique: "We use the lure-stick method. Rough wooden sticks are sprayed with valerian tincture. They are magically attracted to the smell and rub against it as if they were on drugs." Hair samples left on the sticks are sent to a genetics lab for species identification.

At night all cats are grey. Even on wildlife cameras you often can't tell whether it's a wildcat or a domestic cat.

Threats and conservation

The species is listed as category 3 ("endangered") on Germany's national Red List. Road mortality is a leading cause of death, and habitat fragmentation from roads and settlements remains a persistent pressure. Lillig notes that Saarland is the only federal state without a wildlife bridge, and suggests that even simple underpasses at key points would help. The upcoming conference, "Saarlands Wildkatzenwälder von morgen" (Saarland's wildcat forests of tomorrow), will bring together SaarForst and BUND on 27 June in Saarbrücken to discuss long-term habitat connectivity.

Ecological role

Lillig calls the wildcat a "Leitart" (indicator species): its presence signals an ecologically intact and well-connected forest. "Where it thrives, many others thrive," he says. Thomas Steinmetz, director of the state forestry agency SaarForst, adds a practical benefit: the cats reduce mouse populations that eat tree seeds and gnaw on young plants.

For us, the wildcat is a natural ally in raising a stable forest.

A state-wide stronghold

Saarland is now described as Germany's only state where the wildcat has colonised the entire territory. The recovery from a handful of known pockets to near-complete coverage offers a rare positive narrative in Central European mammal conservation, and the conference aims to secure that trajectory for the coming decades.