Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) were historically distributed across the shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie regions of North America. Today, the swift fox is found in small, isolated populations in the southern and western margins of its historic range. Although methods for censusing wild canids exist, an evaluation of survey techniques for monitoring trends in the abundance of swift foxes has not been conducted. We conducted a 2-year study evaluating 6 survey methods and their ability to accurately monitor changes in swift fox density (independently determined from radiocollared foxes). The study was conducted on the United States Army Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, southeastern Colorado, from January 1997 to December 1998. We evaluated catch-per-unit-effort (trapping surveys), mark-recapture estimates, scent-post surveys, spotlight counts, scat deposition rate surveys, and an activity index. All surveys were conducted along 5 10-km transects during 3 seasons annually. All methods, except spotlight counts, were reliable and consistent for detecting swift fox presence across the 5 survey transects. Regression analyses indicated that the correlation between swift fox density and survey method varied among methods and seasons, with mark-recapture estimates being the highest predictor (r=0.711), followed by scat deposition surveys (r=0.697), scent-post surveys (r=0.608), spotlight surveys (r=0.420), trapping surveys (r=0.326), and the activity index (r=0.067). Stepwise regression analysis of all survey methods indicated that the combination of mark-recapture estimates and scent-station indices was the highest predictor of swift fox density (r=0.853). The combination of these 2 surveys would be economical and reliable for monitoring swift fox population trends. The combination of scent-station indices and scat deposition surveys was almost as reliable (r=0.829) but was far less costly than surveys involving mark-recapture estimates. A combination of more surveys did little to increase the level of prediction. Survey costs varied due to differing requirements of labor and equipment.

An evaluation of survey methods for monitoring swift fox abundance

/pdf/census-of-swift-fox-vulpes-velox-in-canada-and-northern-595zj45lbl.pdf

Census of swift fox (Vulpes velox) in Canada and northern Montana : 2000-2001 /

Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis (Baird, 1858)) have experienced severe reductions in populations on 4 out of 6 California Channel Islands. Although numbers of foxes on San Clemente Island (SCLI; Urocyon littoralis clementae Mer- riam, 1903) have remained relatively stable, data on reproductive success in urban and rural areas are necessary to better understand population dynamics of foxes and manage the population if it sustains declines. Determining locations and char- acteristics of den sites will also assist in minimizing possible impacts of humans on foxes. We found that 10 female foxes produced at least 19 kits during 2008. Female foxes that spent a greater proportion of time within an urban area had greater probability of reproducing compared with foxes that infrequently utilized urban areas. However, these "urban" foxes often selected den sites nearer to roads, which may expose them to increased mortalities. We located 23 den sites on a mean of 17°-18° slopes with 40% having westerly facing aspects. We recommend avoiding human disturbance to these areas from February through June, which may minimize potential impacts on foxes. Our study should provide insight into managing island foxes, especially in respect to urban areas on other Channel Islands. Resume : Les renards gris insulaires (Urocyon littoralis (Baird, 1858)) ont connu d'importantes reductions de population sur 4 des 6 iles du detroit de Californie. Bien que le nombre de renards sur l'ile San Clemente (SCLI; Urocyon littoralis cle- mentae Merriam, 1903) soit demeure relativement stable, il est necessaire d'obtenir des donnees sur le succes de la repro- duction dans les zones urbaines et rurales afin de mieux comprendre la dynamique de population des renards et de faire la gestion de la population en cas de declins. L'identification des sites des tanieres et de leurs caracteristiques permettra de plus de reduire au minimum l'impact des humains sur les renards. Nous avons observe 10 renards femelles produire au moins 19 renardeaux durant l'annee 2008. Les renards femelles qui passent une plus grande partie de leur temps dans les zones urbaines ont une plus forte probabilite de se reproduire que les renards femelles qui frequentent rarement les zones ur- baines. Cependant, ces renards « urbains » choisissent souvent pour leur taniere des sites plus pres des routes, ce qui peut les exposer a une mortalite accrue. Nous avons trouve 23 sites de tanieres sur des pentes moyennes de 17°-18° et 40 % d'entre eux sont orientes vers l'ouest. Nous recommandons d'eviter les perturbations anthropiques de ces sites de fevrier a la fin de juin, ce qui pourrait reduire au minimum l'impact sur les renards. Notre etude devrait fournir des perspectives sur la gestion des renards gris insulaires sur les autres iles du detroit, particulierement en ce qui regarde les zones urbaines. (Traduit par la Redaction)

Reproduction and denning by urban and rural San Clemente Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis clementae)

Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) are an endemic mesocarnivore of North America subject to resource and predation-based pressures. While swift fox demographics have been documented, there is little information on the importance of top-down versus bottom-up pressures or the effect of landscape heterogeneity. Using a consumable resource-based ideal free distribution model as a conceptual framework, we isolated the effects of resource-based habitat selection on fox population ecology. We hypothesized if swift fox ecology is predominantly resource dependant, distribution, survival, and space use would match predictions made under ideal free distribution theory. We monitored survival and home range use of 47 swift foxes in southeastern Colorado from 2001 to 2004. Annual home range size was 15.4 km2, and seasonal home range size was 10.1 km2. At the individual level, annual home range size was unrelated to survival. Estimates of fox density ranged from 0.03 to 0.18 foxes/km2. Seasonal survival rates were 0.73 and 1.0 and did not differ seasonally. Foxes conformed to the predictions of the ideal free distribution model during winter, indicating foxes are food stressed and their behavior governed by resource acquisition. During the rest of the year, behavior was not resource driven and was governed by security from intraguild predation.

/pdf/swift-foxes-and-ideal-free-distribution-relative-influence-1tj8e9xc64.pdf

Swift Foxes and Ideal Free Distribution: Relative Influence of Vegetation and Rodent Prey Base on Swift Fox Survival, Density, and Home Range Size

/pdf/behavioral-and-population-ecology-of-swift-foxes-in-2sww14cy69.pdf

Behavioral and Population Ecology of Swift Foxes in Northeastern Montana

An ecological and taxonomic review of the swift fox (Vulpes velox) with special reference to Montana

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An ecological and taxonomic review of the swift fox (Vulpes velox) with special reference to Montana