Macroscopic prey remains in the winter diet of foxes Vulpes vulpes in rural Britain

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2006
Authors:Webbon, CC, Baker, PJ, Cole, NC, Harris, S
Journal:Mammal Review
Volume:36
Pagination:85-97
Date Published:2006
ISBN Number:1365-2907
Keywords:Vulpes vulpes
Abstract:

ABSTRACT * 1The winter diet of foxes Vulpes vulpes was quantified in seven landscape types in Britain, using faecal samples from 87 sites. * 2Medium-sized mammals (0.1–5.0 kg) were consistently the most important prey group in arable and pastural landscapes, occurring in 44–72% of scats and comprising 50–75% of the mass of prey ingested. Birds and small mammals (< 0.1 kg) were important secondary prey groups. * 3Small mammals were the most frequently recorded prey group in marginal upland (42% of scats) and upland landscapes (75%), followed by large mammals (33% and 23%, respectively). In terms of mass ingested, small mammals (38%) and large mammals (52%) were the most important prey groups in these landscapes. * 4In all landscapes, field voles Microtus agrestis, lagomorphs, sheep/deer and passerines/galliforms dominated their respective prey groupings.

URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00069.x
Taxonomic name: 
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith