Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Trophic rewilding has emerged as a promising approach to restore ecological processes through the reintroduction of species. Yet, rigorous pre-intervention assessments of native wildlife communities remain scarce, limiting the ability to detect and interpret rewilding outcomes. Here, we provide a baseline assessment of wild mammal populations in two sites of central Italy where trophic rewilding plans are being proposed: the Alfina plateau (Umbria) and the Diaccialone estate (Tuscany). We focused on six target species: European badger, martens ( <italic>Martes spp.</italic> ), porcupine, red fox, roe deer, and wild boar. By using a standardized camera-trapping design we estimated mammal population density (using Random Encounter Models), modelled species occupancy and its environmental drivers, and quantified diel activity patterns and interspecific temporal overlap. Density estimates varied considerably between species and sites, with roe deer and wild boar showing the highest densities in both areas. Occupancy models revealed high species presence across both sites, with detectability and space use shaped by landscape structural complexity and anthropogenic disturbance. Activity analyses highlighted interspecific differences in temporal niche partitioning and some significant inter-site variation. Together, these results establish a robust baseline of the native mammal communities prior to the planned rewilding interventions, allowing to inform rewilding strategies and plan before-after comparisons. Based on our findings, we provide a set of practical recommendations for future rewilding plans. </p>