RANGING BEHAVIOR OF RED FOXES DURING THE MATING AND BREEDING SEASONS

Ranging behaviour (home range size, core area size, activity levels) o f four red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; three males and one female) was studi ed by radio-tracking in a rural area of Central Italy during the matin g and breeding seasons (January to May). Home range size was equal or smaller than in other areas, ranging from 47 to 320 ha (kernel analysi s) or from 57 to 394 ha (minimum convex polygon), with the exception o f a yearling male, who ranged over a very large area (2307 ha). Core a reas ranged from 11 to 29 ha. Foxes were most active between 19:00 and 00:00 hr, then activity decreased slowly until sunrise. Foxes used ab out 25% of their range each night, with individually different strateg ies: the two resident males greatly increased their range in the secon d half of female fertile period, whereas the nomadic male restricted h is large range during the peak of matings. Barking bouts (indices of a gonistic and contact behaviour) were most common after median ovulatio n date. The female decreased her range at the time of births. The rang e expansion by males during the mating season, also reported by previo us studies, was limited to the second half of the females' fertile per iod. Males could therefore maximise individual reproductive success by roaming only after the oestrus of their mate. Because of the small nu mber of foxes followed, these results should be verified in other stud ies.