Ranging behaviour and movements of the red fox in remnant forest habitats
Alison L. Towerton A C F , Rodney P. Kavanagh C D , Trent D. Penman E and Christopher R. Dickman A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Present address: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
C Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100, Beecroft, NSW 2119, Australia.
D Present address: Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 4301, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
E School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Creswick, Vic. 3363, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: alison.towerton@gmail.com
Wildlife Research 43(6) 492-506 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR15203
Submitted: 27 October 2015 Accepted: 24 July 2016 Published: 26 October 2016
Abstract
Context: The Eurasian red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread pest in mixed agricultural and remnant forest habitats in southern Australia, and is controlled most commonly with baits containing poison (1080) to protect both agricultural and ecological assets. An understanding of fox movements in such habitats should assist in the strategic placement of baits and increase bait encounters by foxes across the landscape, thus improving the success of control efforts.
Aims: We seek to understand the ranges, movements and habitat use of foxes to aid the development of effective management plans. The fate of tracked animals was examined during a control program.
Methods: We radio-tracked 10 foxes using VHF transmitters and three foxes using GPS receivers during control operations in a remnant forest area near Dubbo, New South Wales. We used VHF location fixes to estimate fox range areas and GPS fixes to describe temporal and spatial aspects of fox movements and range use, focal points of activity and potential bait encounters. Selection of forest versus cleared areas was assessed, as was the impact of control operations on collared foxes.
Key results: Range areas (mean ± s.e.; 95% minimum convex polygon) for VHF- and GPS-tracked foxes were 420 ha ± 74 and 4462 ha ± 1799 respectively. Only small parts of range areas were visited on a daily basis, with little overlap. Animals were often within 200 m of roads and crossed or travelled on roads more than expected. At least 75% of collared foxes were probably poisoned in the control program.
Conclusions: Foxes occupy large ranges and move long distances in the study region, with little daily overlap, so successful defence of range areas is unlikely. Control efforts successfully poisoned foxes but also limited data collection because of reduced tracking periods.
Implications: The large and variable areas occupied by foxes suggested that control efforts need to be on-going, coordinated across the landscape, and use a minimum bait density of 0.5 baits per 100 ha in remnant forest habitat to ensure that gaps are minimised. Control operations should target roads and forest edges for bait placement, and increase the time that baits are available, to increase fox encounters and maximise the success of control efforts.
Additional keywords: GPS telemetry, pest control, VHF tracking, Vulpes vulpes.
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