Red fox prey demands and implications to prairie duck production
Journal of Wildlife Management
By: A. B. Sargeant
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Abstract
Experiments were conducted during spring and summer with 33 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to determine prey demands, feeding characteristics, and growth rates using natural foods. Pups began eating prey the 4th week after birth. Then, prey consumption averaged 1.38 and 1.90 kg/pup/week for weeks 5-8 and 9-12 of the denning season respectively, and 2.54 kg/pup/week for the postdenning period. Feeding by adults averaged 2.25 kg/adult/week. Free water was not needed by either pups or adults. About 90 percent of the prey offered to pups on simulated natural diets was consumed, remains varied with prey availability and prey type. Prey biomass required by a typical fox family was estimated at 18.5 kg/km2 for the 12-week denning season and 2.4 kg/km2/week for the postdenning period. Because of the large prey demands, ducks could represent a small part of the foxes' diet and yet be of consequence to the productivity of particular species. An example is provided for the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Red fox prey demands and implications to prairie duck production |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1978 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| First page | 520 |
| Last page | 527 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |