Content of wolf Canis lupus scats used for the diet analysis

The wolf diet was assessed by analyzing 109 scats collected between 2020 and 2022. Scats were placed in paper envelopes, dried in a laboratory drier at 70 °C for five days to eradicate intestinal parasites often recorded in wolf scats in Poland, and stored until the analysis. Subsequently, dry scats were soaked, washed through a 0.5 mm-mesh sieve, dried, and weighed. Food items eaten by wolves were recognized by the remaining elements – hair, fragments of bones, hooves, claws, teeth, and feathers. We identified prey species and/or genera according to the taxonomic keys as well as the comparison to the reference material. In case of doubt (n = 5 samples), DNA isolation and mitochondrial DNA sequencing were performed from the prey remains to identify the species. Genetic material was extracted using the Exgene™ Genomic DNA micro isolation kit, following the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations. The products were then sequenced, and the obtained nucleotide sequences were identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).The dataset contains the following columns:Region - name of the study areaYear - year when the sample was collectedMonth - month when the sample was collectedMass_g - total mass of the washed scat sample in gramswild_boar  - mass of wild boar (Sus scrofa) remains within scatred_deer  - mass of red deer (Cervus elaphus) remains within scatroe_deer  - mass of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) remains within scatCervidae_undetermined  - mass of remains of undetermined cervids (Cervidae) within scatbeaver  - mass of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) remains within scathare  - mass of European hare (Lepus europaeus) remains within scatbirds  - mass of birds (Aves) remains within scatcattle  - mass of domestic cattle (Bos taurus) remains within scatdog  - mass of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) remains within scatsmall_rodents  - mass of small rodents (Rodentia) remains within scatplants - mass of plant matter within scat+ denotes mass <0.05 g