Abstract: Understanding food competition relationship of predators in the sympatric range is an important basis for clarifying population development trends and ecosystem structural and functional stability. In 2017, 101 fecal samples of three carnivore species were collected by line transect and food content frequency analysis method was used to compare the food composition of Asian badger (Meles leuculus), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) at Beijing Songshan National Nature Reserve. The results showed that the food ingredients of these carnivores were dominated by small mammals, the occurrence frequency of rodents was 56.7%, followed by birds with a frequency of 12.7%. Asian badger preferred to eat field mouse (38.9%) and microtus voles (16.7%). In many cases, raccoon dogs and leopard cats had similar food composition, but leopard cats took more bird prey (25.7%). When comparing the food niche overlap and niche breadth of the three predators, the competition in general prey components between species was obvious, but the separation was appeared on the main prey. The coexistence and competition relationship of the three sympatric predators were discussed.

Key words: Asian badger, leopard cat, raccoon dog, food niche, species coexistence