Targeting Selous’s Mongoose When Hunting

The Selous’s mongoose (Paracynictis selousi) is a mammal endemic to Southern Africa and named after Frederick Selous. It is found in the northern parts of Southern Africa and southern Central Africa, from Angola to Zambia. Its status with the IUCN is listed as “least concern” making it an opportunistic target when game hunting in the wild.

The Selous’s mongoose prefers a habitat of open scrub, savannah grass, and woodlands, with short to medium-sized grasses. It lives in burrows, either that it has built itself with its strong front paws or it also uses other abandoned burrows to shelter in.

These mongooses are nocturnal and usually solitary but are seen in pairs at times. Not much is known about breeding habits, but the litter consists of 2-4 young, born between August and March.

This particular mongoose is a carnivore, feasting on birds and their eggs, small reptiles, insects, mice, rats, and frogs. In turn, they are prey for large birds of prey, like hawks and eagles, as well as snakes and jackals.