Variation in the diet of red foxes on Scottish moorland in relation to prey abundance

The diet of red fort Vulpes vulpes was investigated through analysis of 340 seats collected during 1992-1996 from moorland in south-west Scotland. Rod ents, gamebirds, lagomorphs, carrion and insectivores were the most frequen tly occurring food types. Fox diet and prey abundance were compared between heather dominant and grass dominant habitat types within the study area. R odents were the most frequently occurring food type in each habitat and occ urred in 63%, of seats overall. Rodents occurred more often in seats from g rass dominant sites while gamebirds and lagomorphs were more frequent in se ats from heather dominant sires. The occurrence of rodents in winter fox se ats increased with rodent abundance. In contrast, the occurrence of gamebir ds in winter fox seats was unrelated to gamebird abundance but negatively r elated to rodent abundance. It appeared that foxes switched to gamebirds in years, or habitats, where rodents were uncommon.