Ranging behaviour and activity of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes: Mammalia) in relation to environmental variables, in a Mediterranean mixed pinewood

The relationships between the main abiotic environmental variables, food availability, dict, activity and home range size of the fox in a Mediterranean mixed pinewood were assessed. Food habits were determined by faecal analysis on a weekly basis. Food availability was measured by weekly censuses. Radio-tracking allowed the detection of fox movements and activity. Individual differences shown by a sample of four radio-tagged foxes were analysed. Juniper berries (Juniperus oxycedrus) were the staple of the diet during the year, except in summer. Insects, mainly nocturnal Orthoptera and cicada larvae (Cicada orni), were the main prey in the warm season. Large vertebrates, mostly wild boars (Sus scrofa), were scavenged in winter. In the warm season foxes' activity depended largely on the pattern of activity of prey. Food habits tended to depend on food availability, which, in turn was mainly influenced by temperature. In spite of habitat similarity, individual differences in food habits were detected within the same season. Home ranges were larger in pinewood than in neighbouring heterogeneous habitats. Individual home range sizes were: (i) directly correlated to Orthoptera abundance and distribution; (ii) inversely correlated to the abundance of cicada larvae in diet. Resident males may exist in fox society, exploiting other males' territories when good clumped food resources are available.