DISPERSAL PATTERNS OF RED FOXES RELATIVE TO POPULATION-DENSITY

Factors affecting red fox (Vulpes vulpes) dispersal patterns are poorl y understood but warranted investigation because of the role of disper sal in rebuilding depleted populations and transmission of diseases We examined dispersal patterns of red foxes in North Dakota based on rec overies of 363 of 854 foxes tagged as pups and relative to fox density . Foxes were recovered up to 8.6 years after tagging; 79% were trapped or shot. Straight-line distances between tagging and recovery locatio ns ranged from 0 to 302 km. Mean recovery distances increased with age and were greater for males than females, but longest individual recov ery distances were by females. Dispersal distances were not related to population density for males (P = 0.36) or females (P = 0.96). The pr oportion of males recovered that dispersed was inversely related to po pulation density (r = -0.94; n = 5; P = 0.02), but not the proportion of females (r = -0.49; n = 5; P = 0.40). Dispersal directions were not uniform for either males (P = 0.003) or females (P = 0.006); litterma tes tended to disperse in similar directions (P = 0.09). A 4-lane inte rstate highway altered dispersal directions (P = 0.001). Dispersal is a strong innate behavior of red foxes (especially males) that results in many individuals of both sexes traveling far from natal areas. Beca use dispersal distance was unaffected by fox density, populations can be rebuilt and diseases transmitted long distances regardless of fox a bundance.