scholarly journals Population Structure of Harvested Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) on Prince Edward Island, Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendela Wapenaar ◽  
Fiep De Bie ◽  
David Johnston ◽  
Ryan M. O'Handley ◽  
Herman W. Barkema

An understanding of the population dynamics and habitat of wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) is a prerequisite to wildlife management. This information is also important in assessing the risk these wild canids pose to the public and domestic animals. On Prince Edward Island, information on age, sex, reproductive activity, and habitat use of 271 Red Foxes and 201 Coyotes was collected in the hunting and trapping season of 2004–2005. The estimated age of Red Foxes and Coyotes ranged from 0.5 to 13.5 years. A large proportion of harvested Red Foxes and Coyotes (58% and 48%, respectively) consisted of juveniles. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1 for either species. Average litter size was 5.0 and 5.2 for Red Foxes and Coyotes, respectively. Number of placental scars ranged from 0 to 7 in Red Foxes and from 0 to 11 in Coyotes. Agricultural areas were the main habitat type (52%) of harvested Red Foxes. For harvested Coyotes, forest was the main habitat (44%), followed closely by agricultural areas (43%). Urban areas were a significant part (13%) of the habitat of Red Foxes. These data can be used to monitor population dynamics over time, provide information for wildlife management, and provide information on potential risk areas for disease transmission by wild canids.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
pp. 5289
Author(s):  
Mari Hagenlund ◽  
Arne Linløkken ◽  
Kjartan Østbye ◽  
Zea Walton ◽  
Morten Odden ◽  
...  

Knowledge about the dispersal and gene flow patterns in wild animals are important for our understanding of population ecology and the connectedness of populations. It is also important for management relating to disease control and the transmission of new and emerging diseases. Our study aimed to evaluate the genetic structuring among comparative samples of red foxes in a small part of Scandinavia and to estimate the gene flow and potential directionality in the movements of foxes using an optimized set of microsatellite markers. We compared genetic samples of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from two areas in Sweden and two areas in Norway, including red fox samples from areas where the occurrence of the cyclophyllic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis has been documented, and areas without known occurrence of the parasite. Our results show a high level of gene flow over considerable distances and substantiates migration from areas affected with E. multilocularis into Norway where the parasite is not yet detected. The results allow us to better understand the gene flow and directionality in the movement patterns of red foxes, which is important for wildlife management authorities regarding the spread of E. multilocularis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie R. Melotti ◽  
Patrick M. Muzzall ◽  
Daniel J. O’Brien ◽  
Thomas M. Cooley ◽  
Jean I. Tsao

Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Richards ◽  
S. Harris ◽  
J. W. Lewis

SUMMARYA descriptive epidemiological survey was undertaken of the ascarid nematode Toxocara canis in 521 red foxes (vulpes, vulpes) during the period January 1986 to July 1990. Age–prevalence and age–intensity profiles show that worm are significantly higher in cubs than in subadult or adult foxes and higher in subadult than in adult foxes. variations in worm burdens occur, with the highest prevalences and intensities being found during the spring, when are born, and in the summer months. Prevalences and intensities then decrease during the autumn and winter months both subadult and adult foxes, but, during this period, prevalences are significantly higher in male than in female Variations in worm burdens in the fox population are likely to be related to the reproductive cycle of the fox, with proportion of cubs becoming infected in utero. The role of the fox in the transmission of T. canis in the urban environment is discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1270-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendela Wapenaar ◽  
Mark C. Jenkins ◽  
Ryan M. O'Handley ◽  
Herman W. Barkema

Author(s):  
Henry Masters ◽  
Christine R Maher

Species can alleviate competition by reducing diet overlap. Nonnative coyotes (Canis latrans (Say, 1823)) and historically native gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber, 1775)) have expanded their ranges and may compete with native red foxes (Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)). To examine potential competition among canids in Maine, we compared δ13C and δ15N from muscle and hair samples to assess relative resource use, and we compared frequency of occurrence of prey items from stomach contents to assess diets. For these species, red foxes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the most in fall-early winter, gray foxes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the most in summer, and coyotes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the least in all seasons. Coyotes held the highest relative trophic position in fall-early winter, red foxes held the highest relative trophic position in summer, and gray foxes held the lowest relative trophic position. Based on stomach contents, gray foxes had the broadest diet and consumed the most plants, and coyotes had the narrowest diet. Red foxes were the only species to show isotopic niche overlap with both potential competitors across seasons. Thus they may be most susceptible to competitive exclusion among these canids, with implications for community dynamics as ranges shift due to human activity.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e0190971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus A. Mueller ◽  
David Drake ◽  
Maximilian L. Allen

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1285-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Theberge ◽  
Chris H. R. Wedeles

Sympatric coyotes (Canis latrans) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the southwest Yukon, studied across the peak of a snow-shoe hare (Lepus americanus) cycle, differed little from one another in prey selection, and both were heavily dependent on snowshoe hares. After the hare crash, however, foxes turned more to alternative prey than did coyotes. Foxes and coyotes differed in their selection of habitat patches and use of edge. Coyotes exploited edges, where hares were most abundant, and open communities, whereas foxes showed no significant use of edge and used brushy communities. The coexistence of red foxes and coyotes in the southwest Yukon may be facilitated by balancing competitive abilities: foxes persist because of elasticity in their choice of prey and coyotes persist by dominating edges.


2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Rosatte ◽  
Mike Allan

During 1989-1992, 33 Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were fitted with radio-collars in metropolitan Toronto to study their behaviour which would provide data to assist with the design of a rabies control strategy for urban areas of Ontario. Annual home range size for adult foxes (avg = 325 ha, SD = 207) was significantly larger than that of juvenile foxes (avg = 165 ha, SD = 176), but we could not detect any seasonal differences in home range size for foxes. Mean (SD) nightly ranges were 38.3 ha (48.3) in spring, 97.4 ha (115.4) in summer, 26.8 ha (28.5) in fall, and 16.3 ha (13.6) in winter. Movements by foxes during the period from June to November averaged 3.5 km (2.89). Eleven of the foxes were known to have dispersed (? 3 km from their home range), but we could not detect a mean direction of dispersal. Thirty-six percent (4/11) of the foxes dispersed in December and 18% (2/11) dispersed in August, with the remainder dispersing between February and November. Average dispersal distance was 19.3 km (15.6), and a significant negative correlation was detected between initial home range size and dispersal distance of foxes. Mortality of radio-collared foxes was caused by collisions with automobiles, predation, and shooting. Foxes made extensive use of ravines and other greenbelt areas, such as parks and golf courses. Residential areas were also used by some foxes. Knowledge of the habitats frequented by foxes as well as their movement potential assisted researchers in determining where vaccine baits should be placed for the control of rabies in Red Foxes in metropolitan Toronto.


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