Have you seen any large spotted genets in your area or on your property? Are large spotted genets resting in your roof, garage or property? If your answer is ‘yes’, you can make a valuable contribution to the conservation of these animals.
Large spotted genets (Genetta tigrina) are small (1.5 to 3.2kg), exclusively nocturnal carnivores. Their body is elongated with spots and other dark markings that vary from black to a rusty colour, and they have a long white-ringed tail.
As land use changes, especially with expanding urban areas and human population, many animals are affected negatively. However, some, like large spotted genets, appear to be able to use and survive in urban environments and in particular appear to find refuge in suburbia for resting in during the day.
They also appear to make use of the artificial lights that attract their nocturnal insect prey.
To date, there is no published data on large spotted genets in urban areas. A MSc research project is being conducted by Craig Widdows (School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus) under the supervision of Professor CT Downs, on the home range and habitat use of large spotted genets in an urban landscape. We would be grateful for any sightings or feedback that you may have on large spotted genets in the greater Durban area.
If you have genets on your property or information about them, please contact Craig Widdows on 083 781 8725 or e-mail craigw@hotmail.co.za.
20 Comments
Hi Craig,
I saw the article about the Spotted Genets in the Mercury, we have a spotted genet living in our roof, which has been there for the past 2 or 3 years. I am assuming that it is the same genet.
I see it most evenings when it comes out of the roof to go off on it’s nightly travels. We have three large dogs, and they unfortunately see it too, it will sit on the roof until we take the dogs inside for their dinner and the genet can go off in peace. Occassionally, there is a lot of noise in the roof in the early hours of the morning.
We had 1 of our dogs already and it was quite used to the noises and movement in the roof, however, we brought the other 2 home (rescue dogs) and of course the smell of the genet and movement in the roof drove them crazy, so, I decided that perhaps it was best to have the genet captured and relocated. But,…. the “professional capturer” put a cage in the roof with some juicy titbits, and the genet enjoyed the food but refused to be captured. So….. we removed all cages and let it be and taught the dogs (after some sleepness nights) that the genet was part of the package of the new home.
We fondly refer to it as “our kitty”. We did some research on it, and found out, of course, that it was in fact part of the Mongoose family, is this correct?
We live on the edge of the Krantzkloof Conservation Area, in Kloof, of which, the surrounding area has been largely developed in the last 10 years.
Regards
Mez
Thank you very much for that information. Thats amazing news and Im happy to hear its apart of the home. Yes is in the mongoose family (Viverrid).
Please may you send me your address so I can add it to the sightings map.
Kind Regards
Craig Widdows
Hi Craig.I read your article in the mercury and thought I would tell you about our sighting of the genet.We live in Patrick Duncan Rd in Kloof and we have 2 guinea fowl that roost in a tree in our garden.About a month ago they suddenly flew out of the tree at about 9 pm and on further investigation we found this spotted genet sitting on one of the branches.It stayed there for quite a while before slowly climbing down the tree.The same thing happened about a year ago.I have no idea whether he lives on the property or wether he knows that the guina fowl roost in the same place every night and is hoping to catch them off-guard.I hope this info is useful and good luck with your research.
Hi Kim, thanks for your feedback. It’s much appreciated!
Hi craig,
I live in West Riding, Hillcrest in one of the properties along the railway. Last night around 1am my dogs were going crazy around one of the large trees in my yard, eventually I got up and went to investigate and in the torchlight was a rather small Genet, not fully grown. Although petrified it seemed in good condition. After chasing the dogs off the Genet made good its escape.
A few months ago my intrepid pack of hounds managed to corner a marsh mongoose as well ( had to google it extensively as was larger than most mongoose I had seen before) so the wildlife in my area is indeed abundant!
Regards,
Justin
Hi
We saw a genet last night in our garden in kloof.
Hello, We have just sighted a Genet which seems to be residing in our roof. Beautiful creature. We are trying to read up on it and find out if we need to be concerned, do Genet’s carry rabies? can they be a risk to small children?
We live in Nigel, Gauteng, not sure if Genets are common in this side of the world?
Susana
Hi Craig,
I live in Queensburgh and had my dogs barking for ages.
I went outside to find what I thought was a cat in the top of our tree.
I climbed the tree and shook it a bit only to discover it was a spotted genet.
IT quickly climbed down and avoided our barking dogs and headed into the bush.
We then researched what the animal was and came across your website.
We thought we would let you know as it mentions on your site.
Thank you
David and Tiffany Skinner
If you want any more information, please let me know.
I live in la lucia. I own four cats. They were acting rather strangely this evening so we went outside to investigate. We found a small genet lying dead next to the animals outdoor water bowl. There were no apparent injuries to indicate cause of death. Very sad to see our wildlife slowly disappearing.
Hi Craig
We live in Dawncliffe, Westville and have a spotted Genet living in our Leopard Tree. First sighting was 3 days ago and seen it twice since. Not sure how long it has been living in our garden. Hope it stays around!
Regards, Paul
Hi Craig.
I’ve heard noises now for a few years at night when I let the dogs out.
My Mom said that she hears noises on the granny flat roof as well. My neighbour told me that he’s seen a genet on her roof a couple of times.
We started out with quite a lot of eguarnas around the flat and they’ve slowly disappeared. Tonight we actually saw it running up the bamboo palm with it’s long tail and eyes shining in the torch light. It was too dark to tell you the colour.
We live in Glenashley on the Virginia Nature Reserve.When we first moved in here, we didn’t have much of a fence and one night a large cat with pointy ears set off our beams while catching gheckos. It was very majestic and upright, like a rust colour. Don’t know if it was a genet.
Regards
Lara
Hi Craig,
I was very surprised to see a genet in my Coral tree earlier tonight. It was very small and sat between branches for a long time looking down at the ground. I live in St Winifreds Kingsburgh,
Maryna
Hiya Craig, we were so surprised to find a spotted/cape genet in our palm tree, right next to a doves’ nest. The dogs alerted us. We’re on a small holding, Cape Farms area. What a beautiful animal.
Hi Craig
I saw a Genet last night when I went outside to see why my cat was making a ruckus. I live in Westville, Durban.
I am in Queensburgh. I had something removing guinea pigs from my balcony. Last night I managed to spot it. It appears to be a large spotted genet. Is there anyone that can relocate it? It killed one of the guinea pigs tonight but dropped it as it was escaping. I have brought my last little guy inside, but would like the genet moved to somewhere it can eat it’s natural prey and not my pets if possible.
Hi, Spotted a Genet a twice in the evening, I am based in Escombe in Queensburgh. My cousin also recently had one in her yard. She is in Malvern, Queensburgh
Hi, Spotted a Genet twice in the evening, I am based in Escombe in Queensburgh. My cousin also recently had one in her yard. She is in Malvern, Queensburgh
Hello Craig,
We have Camphor trees in our garden (Albany, Hillcrest) where Hadedas roost. They are often disturbed during the early hours and we assumed they were being preyed on by a Genet. At times we find the remains in the garden. Late last year we heard a strange cry which we investigated and found it was a beautiful Genet up in the Camphor. My son found genet droppings (a large pile) in our neighbours’ geyser tray. Now we think it has moved into our roof. We have had a rat problem and we think it is keeping their numbers down. We are really thrilled and hope it continues to reside in our neighbourhood.
Diane
Hi there, I live in Westville and am sure I have a Genet living in my roof as the snake guy says it is not likely to be a monitor as it is winter it makes a huge noise at night but not sure, have you got anyone that can come have a look as to what it is, we have a very high roof so not sure how it would be getting up there.
Hi Craig,
I live in Manor Gardens and we just saw a genet in our back yard at around 6pm.
Our dog alerted us, our first time seeing it so we didn’t know what is was but after checking the net, I’m sure it was the large spotted genet. Not sure how long it has been here though