A study of fox (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) visits to farm buildings in Southwest England and the implications for disease management |
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Authors: | Bryony A Tolhurst Alastair I Ward Richard J Delahay |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK;(2) The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK; |
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Abstract: | Farm buildings may offer foraging opportunities for wild mammals, which may result in economic losses and the potential for
disease transmission to livestock. Effective management to reduce such risks requires knowledge of the behaviour of wildlife
visiting buildings. Remote surveillance was used to monitor red fox (Vulpes vulpes) activity in buildings on cattle farms in Southwest England over a period of 2 years. Frequent visits were observed throughout
the year, during which foxes excreted and scent-marked on stored feed. This behaviour carries potential risks of pathogen
transmission to cattle. Fox visits were positively correlated with maximum temperature in the preceding 24 h, and were most
frequent to buildings where cattle were absent. The frequency of fox visits varied widely amongst farms, potentially reflecting
variation in local farm management practices. On some farms, visits were frequent and involved behaviour with the potential
to result in contamination of the environment with infectious pathogens. Risks of onward transmission to domestic animals
could be managed by imposing tighter biosecurity measures. |
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