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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(3)

Home range, habitat selection and diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in a semi-urban riparian environment

John G. White A B , Robert Gubiani A , Nathalie Smallman A , Kelly Snell A and Anne Morton A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: John.white@deakin.edu.au

Wildlife Research 33(3) 175-180 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05037
Submitted: 14 April 2005  Accepted: 23 March 2006   Published: 31 May 2006

Abstract

Between 2000 and 2002 the home range, habitat selection and diet of foxes were examined in the Dandenong Creek Valley, Melbourne, Australia. The mean home range was 44.6 ha (range 19.2–152.6 ha). A significant selection towards blackberry and gorse used as diurnal shelter was found during the day with an active avoidance of less structurally complex vegetation types. Although there was obvious selection of certain habitats, the diet of the foxes was highly general and opportunistic and thus offers little potential as a factor to manipulate in order to reduce fox abundance. Given the strong preference for blackberry and gorse as a shelter resource, a habitat-manipulation strategy is suggested whereby patches of blackberry and gorse are removed and replaced with less structurally complex vegetation. Such a strategy has the potential to influence the density of foxes in semi-urban riparian environments such as those discussed in this study.


Acknowledgments

We thank several individuals and organisations for their participation in, and support for, this study. First, all the members of the Dandenong Creek Valley Coordinated Fox Control Committee are thanked, particularly Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, VicRoads, Knox City Council, Monash City Council, and Whitehorse City Council, for their financial support, passion, enthusiasm and support. Second, we thank the numerous students of Deakin University that have worked on this project, particularly Cameron Graham whose commitment is greatly appreciated. We are also extremely grateful to the National Feral Animal Control Program under the NHT for generous financial support of this project. Most of this research could not have been conducted without the support of the NFACP. Thanks also to Raylene Cooke, Fiona Hogan and James Fitzsimons and two anonymous referees for commenting on previous drafts. This research was conducted with approval by the Deakin University Animal Ethics Committee (permit number A8200) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, permit number RE24).


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