Resources of red fox in the Moscow region

Abstract

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) is one of the most common predatory mammals of the canid family living on the territory of the Moscow region. The main interest in the study of red fox is caused by the lack of data on the current state of the dynamics of the number of species on the territory of the hunting grounds of this region. The purpose of the research was to study the resources of the red fox grouping and their use on the territory of the Moscow region. It was found that the number of red fox in the Moscow region from 2010 to 2021 tended to decrease and amounted to 4014 individuals in 2021. The average long-term population density of the fox was at the level of 2,7 individuals per 1000 ectares of native land, the biological productivity of hunting grounds for the red fox in 2017–2021 was 1,15 rubles/ha, and the yield of its products in 2016–2019 was 0,82 rubles/ha with the average annual cost of resources 3867,45 thousand rubles in 2010–2021. Fox harvest in 2010–2021 was unstable and amounted to 43-73 % of the post-harvest population, which may be due to the lack of demand for fox skins. According to the results of the research the relationship of the highest fox population density per 1000 hectares of native land in the Solnechnogorsky and the Kashirsky districts with the largest landfi lls of the Moscow region operating on their territories was revealed. A map of the average annual resources of red fox and their placement in the Moscow region in 2010–2021 has been developed, which clearly shows the most promising areas of the Moscow region for the organization of hunting for red fox.