Survival and Movements of Transplanted and Adopted Red Fox Pups

Abstract

The recovery rates and dispersal distances of transplanted juvenile red foxes (Vulpes fulvs) were compared with those of controls released an their natal range. Transplanted juvenile foxes included one group held in captivity for 2 to 4 weeks before release (Group 1)> one group added to other resident litters (Group 2), and nine farnily groups each consisting of an adult female and her offspring (Group 3). The overall recovery rate was not significantly different among Groups 1, 2, and 3, but rates of each of iese groups tended to be higher than those of the controls. Mortality aier ian hunting and trapping, was higher in the group held captive than in Xall other groups. Dispersal in all groups did not begin until late Se?tember and early October. Only one of ie nine transplanted adult females showed a tendency to home back to the original den. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 37(T):69-72 There are few published reports on the rearing of young foxes by foster parents or survival estimates for transplanted versus nol1-transplanted foxes. Marcstromas ( 1968 ) study in Sweden indicated that eansplanted red foxes survived as well as those released at the point of capture. However Errington and Berry (1937) presented evidence that for red foxes kept in captivity, survival was better in those released in fall than in those released at a younger age in spring. Sheldon (1950:37) noted that a litter of Sweek old pups was adopted by one adult male red fox in captivity. Kleiman ( 1968:5) observed two arctic fox vixens (Alopex lagopus L.) in captivity retrieving each other's cubs. In other carnivores Verts (1967) indicated that captive lactating skunks ( Mephitis mephitis) accepted orphaned young in early stages of development, and Erickson and Miller (1963:585) reported adoption in the brown bear (Ursus arctos). In a 1 Present address: Pennsylvania Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvarlia State University, University Park, Pa. 16802. review of mammalian adult-young relationshipsa Spencer-Booth (1970) pointed out the wide variability between species in their readiness to adopt offspring and the complexity of the adoption process. This paper compares the mortality of juvenile red foxes removed from their natal ranges and transplarlted int() unfamiliar areas with that of juveniles captured and released on their natal ranges. All foxes were captured and rele!ased in Iowa during 196S1Y10. This study was financed by the Iowa Conservation Commission, by NIH Training Grant No. 5 T01 GM01779, by U. S. Atomic Ersergy Commission ( C00-133282) directed by Dr. J. R. Tester, and the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. We thank G. G. Good who assisted in all phases of the field work. Ann H. Jones, Drs. E. D. Klonglan, and R. B. Finley reviewed the manuscript.