Ungulate Use of a Natural Mineral Lick in the Hyrcanian Forests of Northern Iran: Insights from Camera-Trap Monitoring

Natural mineral licks are important focal resources for large herbivores, yet their ecological role remains poorly documented in many regions of the Middle East and western Asia. We investigated ungulate use of a natural mineral lick in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran using camera-trap monitoring. A single infrared camera trap was deployed at the mineral lick beginning on 7 March 2025 and operated continuously for 19 consecutive days during late winter. A total of 623 photographs and video clips were recorded. To reduce pseudoreplication, records were grouped into independent events using a 30-minute threshold between consecutive detections of the same species, resulting in 17 independent events used for analysis. Three ungulate species were recorded visiting the site: red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Red deer accounted for the majority of independent events, while roe deer and wild boar were recorded less frequently. Visitation occurred mainly during crepuscular and nocturnal periods. Group composition varied among species and included adult females, adult males, subadults, and juveniles. This study provides baseline information on ungulate use of a natural mineral lick in an understudied region and highlights the value of camera trapping for documenting wildlife behavior at sensitive natural resources.