INTERACTION BETWEEN ORAL VACCINATION OF R ED FOXES AGAINST RABIES ANDTHE FOX POPULATION-DYNAMICS

Rabies as an important controlling fac tor of fox populations has been the subject of speculation with respect to the effects of oral rabies vaccination campaigns and their effects on the population dynamics of foxes. There is evidence for a change in the population dynamics as a result of rabies vaccination resulting in increased densities, but th ere are other factors relevant to this effect requiring elucidation. T his is therefore a complex issue especially as there appears to be a n atural increase in the density offer populations. The other factors wh ich could be responsible for an increase in the density of foxes are d iscussed, together with the difficulties in enumerating population den sities, fox control measures and the effects of oral vaccination.