The potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on lamb production

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette J. McLeod ◽  
Glen R. Saunders ◽  
Steven R. McLeod ◽  
Michelle Dawson ◽  
Remy van de Ven
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Control Effort ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fox Control

ContextRed fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation has an impact on populations of many species throughout its range worldwide, and as such, the red fox is the target of control programs. AimsWe investigated the potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of fox predation on a major prey species, lambs. MethodsThe present study monitored fox-management programs already operating across 4.5 million hectares of regional New South Wales to compare the impact of varying (frequency and spatial coverage) control effort on lamb survival. Key resultsThe frequency and timing of fox control was correlated with lamb survival. Lamb survival was higher in areas where fox baiting was carried out twice a year, in autumn and late winter/spring. Spatial coverage of the control program was also positively correlated with lamb survival. Properties that had near neighbours (up to 2.5 km away) participating in group fox-control programs had higher survival of lambs than properties that did not. ConclusionsThese results support the development of a high level of group participation in fox-control programs that considers both spatial extent and frequency of baiting programs. They also support a movement away from the reactionary, short-term practice of baiting small areas to protect vulnerable prey. ImplicationsCoordinated group-baiting programs are likely to deliver improved lamb survival and should be promoted in areas where ongoing control programs for foxes are necessary.

Immediate post-release survival of eastern barred bandicoots Perameles gunnii at Woodlands Historic Park, Victoria, with reference to fox activity.

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Long ◽  
AJ Robley ◽  
K Lovett
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Predator Control ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Fox Control

On mainland Australia, eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) are now restricted to a single wild population at Hamilton in western Victoria, and recovery efforts are focussed on establishing new populations at reintroduction sites. The success in founding these populations has been variable, and post-release survival has not been accurately quantified. It is believed that predation by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is largely responsible for post-release loss of P. gunnii, despite the implementation of predator control programs at release sites. An intensive fox control program was established to protect 10 released P. gunnii at Woodlands Historic Park, near Melbourne. Monitoring of fox activity was undertaken prior to and after the release in an attempt to better understand the effectiveness of control operations. Seven bandicoots were known to be alive at the conclusion of the study five weeks after their release (and an additional animal was trapped four months later), with weight loss appearing to be an important factor in determining post-release survival. Despite constant levels of bait-take by V. vulpes, fox activity measured from sand-pads remained high. We hypothesise that the presence of suitable refugia is allowing the persistence of a low-density bandicoot population at Woodlands despite constant, high levels of fox activity.

Preliminary Field Assessment of a Cabergoline Baiting Campaign for Reproductive Control of the Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes).

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Marks ◽  
M Nijk ◽  
F Gigliotti ◽  
F Busana ◽  
RV Short
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Reproductive Control ◽  
Field Assessment ◽  
Poison Baiting ◽  
Fox Control

The use of poison baiting in Australia to control foxes is impractical in urban areas and some wildlife reserves because of hazards to non-target animals. More acceptable methods of fox control in such environments are needed. Cabergoline is a dopamine agonist that has previously been demonstrated to have an abortifacient effect in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris). The prolactin-inhibiting action of cabergoline may also result in cessation of lactation. Cabergoline has been shown to be completely palatable to foxes and is easily incorporated into a non-poisonous bait. The ability of bait-delivered cabergoline to effect the birth of viable fox cubs was tested in urban Melbourne and rural Bendigo, Victoria. A sample of 51 natal dens were chosen for this study on the basis that they had been active for 3 consecutive years (1991-93). 30 treatment dens were randomly selected and each treated once during August and again during September 1994 with 8 non-poisonous Foxoff baits containing 170 micro g of cabergoline and 200 mg of tetracycline to act as a biomarker. The remaining 21 dens were used as controls. Baits were randomly placed by burial within a 50-m radius of the den. Activity of all dens was assessed until December 1994 for direct/indirect signs of fox cubs. Bait uptake was >88% overall for the treatment dens. The resulting incidence of cubs was significantly lower in the treatment dens than in the controls. The potential for cabergoline to be used in urban areas and island populations as an adjunct to conventional control methods is discussed.

Factors associated with fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation of lambs in Britain

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Moberly ◽  
Piran C. L. White ◽  
Charlotte C. Webbon ◽  
Philip J. Baker ◽  
Stephen Harris
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Regional Location ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fox Control

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are believed to have an economic impact on farming through predation on lambs, poultry and game. Investigation of the causes behind variation in the impact of predation between farms is required to improve management of these problems. A questionnaire survey of sheep farmers was combined with field data on relative fox population abundance to investigate some of the factors associated with both the occurrence and scale of perceived fox predation in Britain. Reported lamb losses to foxes were generally low but there was a large range in perceived levels of predation, from 0.0008 to 0.26 lambs per ewe, with 59% of respondents reporting that they had lost at least one lamb to a fox at their most recent lambing. Flock size was an important factor determining perceived fox predation. Fox predation was more likely to have occurred on larger farms, but, when it did, fewer lambs were perceived lost per ewe. Various other non-management characteristics, including regional location, had an influence on fox predation. Fox abundance was positively associated with perceived predation. Indoor lambing was an important preventive measure against fox predation. However, the effect of fox control on livestock predation was difficult to determine because of potential reactive behaviour by farmers to lamb losses. The analyses indicate that multivariate rather than univariate techniques should be used in the assessment of predator impacts and in making management recommendations. The identification of farm characteristics associated with fox predation, such as location and indoor lambing, enables the potential identification of problem farms where preventive management should be targeted.

The impact of 1080 bait removal by Lace Monitors(Varanus varius) on a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) control programme

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Philip Woodford ◽  
Alan Robley ◽  
Paul Maloney ◽  
Jim Reside
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
The Impact

Cats (Felis catus) are more abundant and are the dominant predator of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) after sustained fox (Vulpes vulpes) control

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Marlow ◽  
Neil D. Thomas ◽  
Andrew A. E. Williams ◽  
Brian Macmahon ◽  
John Lawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Predation Rate ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Recovery Programs ◽  
Invasive Predators ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Fox Control

The control of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) is a key component of many fauna recovery programs in Australia. A question crucial to the success of these programs is how fox control influences feral cat abundance and subsequently affects predation upon native fauna. Historically, this question has been difficult to address because invasive predators are typically challenging to monitor. Here, non-invasive DNA analysis was used to determine the fate of radio-collared woylies (Bettongia penicillata) in two reserves in a mesic environment where foxes had been controlled intensively for over two decades. Woylie trap success had increased more than 20-fold after fox baiting commenced in the 1980s but decreased precipitously in 2000. Ninety-eight monitored woylies were killed between 2006 and 2009. DNA analysis of swabs taken from radio-collars and carcasses of these woylies indicated that predation by cats (Felis catus) caused most mortalities (65%) and was three times the fox predation rate (21%). Also, indices of cat abundance were higher in fox-baited sites where foxes were less abundant. Predation on woylies by cats was greater than previously recognised and, by implication, may significantly reduce the effectiveness of fox control programs throughout Australia. Integrated fox and cat control is essential to ensure the success of fauna recovery programs.

scholarly journals The Efficiency of Live-Capture Traps for the Study of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Cubs: A Three-Year Study in Poland

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa J. Mierzejewska ◽  
Dorota Dwużnik ◽  
Katarzyna Tołkacz ◽  
Anna Bajer ◽  
Marek Panek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Capture Efficiency ◽  
Trapping Site ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Trap Night ◽  
Trapping Method ◽  
Capture Method ◽  
The Impact

Safe and efficient techniques for the live capture of carnivores are limited. In this study, we identified some of the factors that could affect the success of capturing red fox cubs with live capture traps (also known as cage traps). During a three-year period, we analysed 32 captures of 25 fox cubs (1.3 captures/fox). We assessed the impact of the following factors: sex of animals, month of trapping, weather conditions recorded for each trap-night, the willingness of cubs to explore and enter cage traps, the researchers’ activity around den complexes before trapping and distances to the nearest village or farm. The overall trap rate (32 captures, including recaptured cubs) and the trap rate for individual cubs (25 captures) was 11.2 cubs/100 trap-nights and 8.7/100 trap-nights, respectively. Animals other than foxes were captured only three times, thus the selectivity of the cage-trapping method was high (32/35 = 91.4%). The probability of capturing one cub per night was 70.2% (32 cubs/47 nights). Cubs inhabiting dens in the vicinity of human settlements were less likely to explore and enter traps. Vixens were more likely to relocate their litters if the activity of the staff setting the traps was intense at the trapping site. The success of trapping was higher during poor weather as, for example, during rain or thunderstorms. None of the trapped animals suffered any injuries. Whereas cage trapping can be an effective and safe capture method for juvenile foxes, capture efficiency is affected by the experience of the trappers and a range of other factors including weather and distance to human settlements.

Primary osteoblast culture from red fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Pedro Perpetuo ◽  
Alessandro Felder ◽  
Andrew Pitsillides ◽  
Michael Doube ◽  
Isabel Orriss
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Primary Osteoblast ◽  
Osteoblast Culture

Diet of the introduced red fox Vulpes vulpes in Australia: analysis of temporal and spatial patterns

Mammal Review ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Heather M. Crawford ◽  
Alyson M. Stobo‐Wilson ◽  
Stuart J. Dawson ◽  
Christopher R. Dickman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Patterns ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

scholarly journals How far from the road should land cover be assessed? A case study on mesopredator mortality on roads

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Nieszała ◽  
Daniel Klich
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Buffer Size ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
The Road ◽  
Spatially Correlated ◽  
European Badger ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe methods used to assess the significance of land cover in the vicinity of a road for the mortality of mesopredators are diverse. In assessing the effect of land cover along the road on road causalities, scientists use various buffer sizes, or even no buffer along the road. The aim of this study was to verify how results of land cover effects on the mortality of mesopredators on roads may differ when analyzing various buffer sizes from the road. We assessed road causalities in the Warmian-Masurian voivodeship (Poland) from 3 consecutive years: 2015, 2016, and 2017. The roads were divided into equal sections of 2000 m each with buffer size of radius: 10, 250, 500, and 1000 m. We analyzed the number of road kills of red fox and European badger separately in a generalized linear model, whereas explanatory variables we used land cover types (based on the Corine Land Cover inventory) and traffic volume. Mean annual mortality from road collisions amounts to 2.36% of the red fox population and 3.82% of the European badger population. We found that the buffer size determines the results of the impact of land cover on mesocarnivore mortality on roads. The red fox differed from the European badger in response to land cover depending on the buffer size. The differences we have shown relate in particular to built-up areas. Our results indicate a 500-m buffer as best reflecting the land cover effects in road kills of both species. This was confirmed by model evaluation and a tendency to use or avoid the vicinity of human settlements of the analyzed species. We concluded that buffer size will probably affect mostly the significance of cover types that are spatially correlated with roads, positively or negatively. We suggest that the home range size of given species in local conditions should be assessed before determining the size of the buffer for analysis.

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