Range structure in the red fox (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis> L.) in the forest zone of Eastern Europe

Over the last 40 years, the red fox has spread into the tundra zone, which coincided with its population increase in European Russia. Foxes become more abundant from the northeast southwestward according to zonal regularities. Their population density is the highest in the southern taiga, the subtaiga, and partly in the forest tundra of the Kola Peninsula. The distribution of foxes depends on the abundance of their prey. Nevertheless, the ratio of forested to open areas, mosaic and habitat fragmentation, as well as forest structure, also play an important role. The best ratios between habitat areas have been determined. The red fox is an ecotone species. Human impact on forest habitats caused an increase in its population and its wide expansion into the taiga.