Preference for various nest box designs in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and blue foxes (Alopex lagopus)

Nest box choice experiments were carried out outside the breeding season on adult silver and blue fox vixens with no previous permanent nest box exper ience. Nest boxes were varied in height of placement, number of rooms, pres ence of entrance room or platform and light conditions. Only one parameter was varied in any one experiment. Both fox species clearly preferred an ele vated multi-room nest box; while silver foxes showed preference for boxes s upplied with a platform, blue foxes preferred boxes with an entrance room. There was no significant box preference with respect to light conditions. T he possible welfare implications of the preferences are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.