Spatial behaviour of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in a rural area of central Italy

Abstract

Seven foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were studied by radio‐tracking from 3 to 12 months/animal, and a total of 4 005 fixes was made. Seasonal home ranges were calculated using several methods giving a minimum of 29–3 and a maximum of 268.7 ha (100% Minimum Convex Polygon). The land use by the foxes was monitored and the habitat analysed. No uniform home range use was revealed, but several core areas were identified; 1–3 of rest and 1–4 of activity being found, seasonally, in each home range. The distribution of core areas of rest and activity suggested that home range size and shape were determined not only by core areas of activity but also by resting sites. The Kernel centres of rest were localised mainly in natural vegetation (85.1%) and sometimes in cereal fields (12.1%) or in hay‐lofts (2.8%), while those of activity were in anthropic environments (56.1%) as well as in natural vegetation (43–9%), but with seasonal variations. Activity was mainly nocturnal, but interrupted by resting periods. Some individual variations were also revealed in home range size, number of core areas, habitat use and daily activity.