Abstract
ABSTRACT The winter diet of foxes Vulpes vulpes was quantified in seven landscape types in Britain, using faecal samples from 87 sites. Medium‐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. Small 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. In all landscapes, field voles Microtus agrestis, lagomorphs, sheep/deer and passerines/galliforms dominated their respective prey groupings.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call