Increasing the target-specificity of the M-44 ejector by exploiting differences in head morphology between foxes and large dasyurids

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Nicholson ◽  
Frank Gigliotti
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Target Specificity ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Lethal Control ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Head Morphology ◽  
Pulling Force ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii

The M-44 ejector (ejector) is a more target-specific means of lethal control of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) than conventional meat baits, which may expose a wide range of non-target species to the bait toxicant. Owing to the threshold pulling force required to activate the ejector, undesired exposure is eliminated in many smaller animals that cannot generate this force. However, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) and the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) remain potential non-target species because of their larger size. In this study, we report on the development of a collar that excludes devils and quolls by exploiting differences in their head morphology relative to that of red foxes. The collar potentially prevents bait removal by larger non-target species, while still allowing all adult foxes access to the bait to trigger the ejector mechanism. Spotted-tailed quolls small enough to access the bait are theoretically too small to trigger the ejector mechanism set at a threshold pulling force of 2.7 kg.

The fate of dried meat baits laid for fox control: the effects of bait presentation on take by foxes and non-target species, and on caching by foxes

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Thomson ◽  
N. E. Kok
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Fox Control

Non-toxic, dried meat baits (45 g) containing small radio-transmitters were laid on cleared sandplots in mixed farming and grain-growing areas in Western Australia. Baits were either buried, tethered by wire trace to a hidden peg, or simply laid untethered on the surface. Baits were exposed for 1 night only and new transects were established each day. Data were available on 1521 baits. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) visited 23% of plots and took baits from 64% of those visited. Unburied baits (both tethered and untethered) were taken significantly more frequently than the buried baits. Of all baits taken by foxes, 25% were cached. Foxes were more likely to cache buried baits than either tethered or untethered baits. Excluding baits taken to cubs, foxes cached baits 3–380 m (mean 87�m) from their original locations. Some baits were carried to cub dens up to 1.25�km away. The fate of 27�cached baits was monitored for varying periods. Of these baits, 59% were later eaten by foxes, most within 3�days. Non-target species took 3% of the baits on offer. Birds were the most common non-target animals to take baits, and in some cases dropped baits up to 400 m away. In terms of takes relative to visits, most takes by birds were of the untethered baits (88%, cf. 33% for tethered, 17% for buried baits). Compared with other baits, a significantly lower proportion of the untethered baits that were taken by birds was actually eaten. Baits cached by foxes and baits moved by birds represent a potential hazard to farm dogs and vulnerable fauna. Recommendations on bait presentation, distance restrictions, and likely risk to farm dogs and non-target species are discussed.

Target Specificity of Foxoff Baits at Belair National Park.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 431
Author(s):  
L.J. Scarman ◽  
S.P. Brown ◽  
F.J.F. Farrugia ◽  
E.N. Marker ◽  
M. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
National Park ◽  
Small Population ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Potential Danger ◽  
Target Specificity ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Backyard Poultry ◽  
The City

Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) pose a significant threat to small native mammals in Australia (Saunders et al. 1995) and may restrict the recovery of some populations of native mammals and birds (Norman, Cullen and Dann 1992; Augee, Smith and Rose 1996; Priddel and Wheeler 1996; Seebeck and Booth 1996; Smith and Quin 1996). In the Adelaide area V. vulpes are wide- spread in the hills. They are often reported near houses and are a nuisance because of their predation on backyard poultry. Within Belair National Park, an area of 840 ha located in the Adelaide hills about 8 km from the City Centre, foxes are a potential danger to small native mammals, such as the Southern Brown Bandicoot (lsoodon obesulus).There is a small population of I. obesulus in Belair National Park, (Regel et al. 1996) of which 62 individuals from an area of about 30 ha were recently marked with microchips. A fox baiting program with Foxoff® in autumn 1996 in Belair National Park saw the uptake of 97 poisoned baits, with two fox carcasses located.

scholarly journals Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) scavenging on the spring sea ice: potential implications for Arctic food webs

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-146
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Jung ◽  
Michael J. Suitor ◽  
Steven Barykuk ◽  
Joseph Nuyaviak ◽  
Danny C. Gordon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Spring Sea Ice

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) has been increasingly observed in the Arctic. However, few observations of Red Foxes occupying and using resources on the sea ice have been reported. We observed a Red Fox scavenging on a Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) carcass on the Beaufort Sea, Northwest Territories, Canada. The fox was in a jumble of ice (i.e., rubble ice) approximately 4.5 km from shore. Local Inuvialuit hunters had also previously observed Red Foxes on the sea ice. Our observation, coupled with those of Inuvialuit hunters, is of interest because it provides additional information on the adaptability of Red Foxes to local environments and their ability to use a wide range of habitats and food sources. Moreover, it points to encroachment by Red Foxes into the offshore habitat of Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and potential competition with them for scarce resources, which may impact trophic food webs.

Assessment of the M-44 ejector for the delivery of 1080 for red fox (Vulpes vulpes) control

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive A. Marks ◽  
Frank Busana ◽  
Frank Gigliotti
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Target Specificity ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Margin Of Safety

The M-44 ejector delivered a reliable lethal dose of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) to captive foxes, with a capsule dose of 2.0 mg of 1080, if a ‘collar’ modification was used. Behavioural observations indicated that the collar influenced the orientation of the fox’s mouth to the M-44 bait upon activation, resulting in a much greater amount of 1080 entering its mouth. This dose is below the 3 mg currently used in fox baits in Victoria and may increase the margin of safety for non-target species during 1080 baiting programs. The authors discuss some of the potential advantages of the ejector over the use of meat baits, such as the elimination of bait caching and improved target specificity. The potential for the M-44 to deliver an even lower lethal dose of 1080, which is closer to the reported theoretical bait LD100 of 1.25 mg for this species, may further reduce the risk of 1080 baiting to non-target species such as tiger quolls.

Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska ◽  
Magdalena Moska ◽  
Anna Mucha ◽  
Heliodor Wierzbicki ◽  
Piotr Przysiecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Ear Height ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
The Right ◽  
Almost All

This paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of 11 measurements were significantly greater in the farm fox population, while only tail length, ear height, and length of the right hind limb were greater in the population of wild foxes. The opposite trend was observed when analysing variation in the measurements — the farm foxes were characterized by a greater variability only in the case of body weight, body length, and breadth of chest. When analysing the sexual dimorphism index in different sex and population groups, in almost all analysed traits, the greatest differences occurred between farm males and wild females. All of the traits examined in this study are important for survival of wild foxes. However, because importance of some traits was reduced during domestication and selective breeding (farm foxes do not have to fight for survival), the genetic relationship between them may have weakened. Other possible causes of morphological differences between the studied groups of red foxes are discussed as well.

scholarly journals Disseminated Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with Cerebral Involvement Found in Portugal

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 531-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana C. Matos ◽  
Luis Figueira ◽  
Maria H. Martins ◽  
Manuela Matos ◽  
Márcia Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Bovis ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Cerebral Involvement

The diet of red foxes, Vulpes vulpes L., in Victoria

1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Coman
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Main Food ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Over Time

Stomach contents were examined for 1229 foxes collected in Victoria during 1968-70. Of these, 967 stomachs contained measurable quantities of food. The fox appears to have a very wide dietary range but is predominantly carnivorous. The main food items encountered were rabbits, sheep carrion, and mice. Lesser amounts of native mammals, birds, cold-blooded vertebrates, invertebrates, and plant material were encountered. For many foods, particularly insects, the intake was markedly seasonal. Regional differences in diet were also apparent. Much of the variation in intake of particular foods over time and between regions was explicable in terms of changing availabilities of these foods.

scholarly journals Mesocarnivores and macroparasites: altitude and land use predict the ticks occurring on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila D. Sándor ◽  
Gianluca D’Amico ◽  
Călin M. Gherman ◽  
Mirabela O. Dumitrache ◽  
Cristian Domșa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Foxes

scholarly journals Four structural variants associated with human‐directed sociability in dogs are not found in tame red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes )

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle R. Bastounes ◽  
Halie M. Rando ◽  
Jennifer L. Johnson ◽  
Lyudmila N. Trut ◽  
Benjamin N. Sacks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Structural Variants ◽  
Red Foxes
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