Factors affecting the efficiency of fox (Vulpes vulpes) baiting practices on the central tablelands of New South Wales (original) (raw)
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Bait palatability influences the caching behaviour of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Wildlife Research, 2001
In a free-choice experiment conducted in a series of pen trials, the influence of food preference on caching behaviour by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated for three unpoisoned bait types: deep-fried beef liver (DFL), dried deep-fried beef liver (DDFL) and a commercial bait (Foxoff ® ). Although some variation in individual preferences for the DDFL and Foxoff was observed, all of the foxes in the pen trials preferred the DFL (P < 0.01) and all cached it least often (P < 0.01). Field trials then compared the uptake, consumption and incidence of caching for the most preferred (DFL) and least preferred (Foxoff) bait types. Radio-transmitters were inserted into unpoisoned Foxoff and DFL baits and a free choice of either was provided at bait stations at three independent sites. A clock module recorded the precise time that each bait was taken from the bait station. The fate of each bait (it could either be eaten, cached or remain in situ) was recorded daily and baits were replaced for five consecutive nights. There was no difference in the rate of uptake for the two baits (P > 0.05) and, despite some variation between the sites, DFL was the most often eaten (P < 0.001) and Foxoff the most often cached (P < 0.001). These data strongly suggest that a highly palatable bait will increase the likelihood of rapid consumption of baits and reduce the incidence of caching. This is likely to increase the cost-effectiveness of baiting and limit the potential for nontarget impacts due to the movement of baits. The high degree of concordance between the results of the pen and field trials suggests that pen trials can assist in the development of more effective bait types. However, conclusions about the relative efficacy of bait types drawn from the results of baiting programs that measure only bait uptake are unlikely to be reliable.
Does baiting influence the relative composition of the diet of foxes?
Wildlife Research, 2006
The changes in the diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Jervis Bay Region was assessed following a long-term baiting program by analysing the composition of fox faecal excreta (scats). In all, 470 fox scats were collected between April and August 2003 from two baited sites, Booderee National Park (BNP) and Beecroft Peninsula, and from two unbaited sites in the southern and northern parts of Jervis Bay National Park (SJBNP and NJBNP respectively). Diet was compared between these sites and mammalian diet was also compared from scats collected before baiting in 1996 and after baiting in 2000 at Beecroft Peninsula and in 2001 at Booderee National Park. In 2003, the most common species consumed by foxes was the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), except at unbaited NJBNP, where the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) was the most frequent dietary item. Significant dietary differences were found between unbaited and baited sites, with the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta...
Wildlife Research, 2003
The removal of non-toxic baits was monitored during a simulated trail-baiting programme for foxes and wild dogs in the central tablelands of New South Wales. Ninety-one buried baits were removed by a number of species including spotted-tailed quolls, Australian brush-turkeys, superb lyrebirds, small mammals, wild dogs and a red fox. Spotted-tailed quolls were significantly less likely to remove baits buried under the ground surface than baits buried in raised mounds of soil. By means of remote photography, individual quolls were identified removing 3-4 baits in one night from bait stations 400 m apart. The results of this study show that spotted-tailed quolls and other non-target species may face substantial risk of consuming baits intended for wild dogs and foxes. However, the risk of poisoning spotted-tailed quolls may be significantly reduced by appropriate planning. Recommendations are made to increase the target-specificity of baiting programmes in areas with populations of spotted-tailed quolls.
The uptake of attractant and flavour enhanced baits by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in rural England
Over a 15 month period the removal rates of different attractant and flavour enhanced baits, by foxes, was investigated at permanent and single use sites. All baits were composed of mechanically recovered chicken meat (MRM) and were treated with one of four additives (an attractant or flavour); untreated baits were used as experimental controls. The addition of synthetic ferment egg (SFE) increased bait removal compared with untreated and valeric acid (VA) treated bait. However, the addition of beef flavour or honey flavour to bait did not increase bait removal rates compared to untreated bait. There was limited evidence of learning (by foxes and other species responsible for removing the bait) at one of the permanent study sites but no evidence of such behaviour at the other site. There was no evidence of consistent seasonal differences in bait removal rates. It was concluded that the use of attractants may increase bait removal rate in areas where bait removal rate is low; but where bait removal rate is high (in most rural areas of Britain) the addition of attractants or flavours offers little advantage.
BAITING RED FOXES IN AN URBAN AREA: A CAMERA TRAP STUDY
Journal of Wildlife Management, 2004
Baiting red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) is an established method of vaccinating foxes against rabies in rural environments. Furthermore, anthelmintic baiting has been demonstrated to reduce the prevalence of the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes. The recent invasion of foxes into urban areas on continental Europe represents a considerable health risk that calls for the evaluation of baiting strategies adapted to the urban environment. We investigated bait uptake by urban foxes using camera traps in Zurich, Switzerland. Baits with and without the anthelmintic praziquantel were placed in several arrangements (exposed, covered, buried), at different locations (fox dens, compost heaps, fox tracks) and in different seasons (early summer, summer, winter). Ninetyone of 252 baits (36%) disappeared within 3 days. Most of the baits consumed near cameras were consumed by foxes (44 of 91). The remaining baits were consumed by hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), snails (Arion sp.), dogs, rodents (Apodemus sp.), and unidentified animals. Bait uptake by foxes was significantly higher during summer than winter (P = 0.022), and foxes accepted baits most frequently at fox dens during early summer (52.8%). Burying baits reduced bait removal by species other than foxes (P < 0.01). For rabies control in urban areas, avoiding contact of nontarget species with the rabies vaccine is particularly important. Greater selection of the fox population can be achieved by distributing baits in winter, burying baits, and choosing sites that are less accessible to nontarget species. However, with anthelmintic treatment, uptake by nontarget species is of lesser importance; hence, the effort to bury the bait is unnecessary.
Cache and carry: hoarding behavior of arctic fox
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2007
Food-hoarding animals are expected to preferentially cache items with lower perishability and/or higher consumption time. We observed arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) foraging in a greater snow goose (Anser caerulescens atlanticus) colony where the main prey of foxes consisted of goose eggs, goslings, and lemmings (Lemmus and Dicrostonyx spp.). We recorded the number of prey consumed and cached and the time that foxes invested in these activities. Foxes took more time to consume a goose egg than a lemming or gosling but cached a greater proportion of eggs than the other prey type. This may be caused by the eggshell, which presumably decreases the perishability and/or pilfering risk of cached eggs, but also increases egg consumption time. Arctic foxes usually recached goose eggs but rarely recached goslings or lemmings. We tested whether the rapid-sequestering hypothesis could explain this recaching behavior. According to this hypothesis, arctic foxes may adopt a two-stage strategy allowing both to maximize egg acquisition rate in an undefended nest and subsequently secure eggs in potentially safer sites. Foxes spent more time carrying an egg and traveled greater distances when establishing a secondary than a primary cache. To gain further information on the location and subsequent fate of cached eggs, we used dummy eggs containing radio transmitters. Lifespan of primary caches increased with distance from the goose nest. Secondary caches were generally located farther from the nest and had a longer lifespan than primary caches. Behavioral observations and the radio-tagged egg technique both gave results supporting the rapid-sequestering hypothesis.
The Diet of Foxes and the Availability of Anthropogenic Food on Prince Edward Island, Canada
2020
It has been postulated that red foxes (Vulpesvulpes) inhabiting Prince Edward Island National Park (Canada) make very little use of natural food sources and that anthropogenic food play an integral part in their diet. The use of anthropogenic food sources has also been associated with an increased number of fatal fox vehicle-collisions in the park. The main goal of this study was to examine the composition of the diet of foxes inhabiting Prince Edward Island National Park and to compare this diet with foxes found in other areas of the island. In particular, we examined the importance of anthropogenic food items in foxes inhabiting the national park. We analyzed 38 stomachs from foxes killed by trappers or vehiclesduring late fall and early winter within and outside the national park. Our results showed that rodents and vegetation were the most common food items present in fox stomachs whether the animals were obtained from within or outside the park. Values of coefficient of variati...
Levamisole can reduce bait monopolization in wild red foxes Vulpes vulpes
Mammal Review, 2004
1. Baits are used worldwide to deliver vaccines, contraceptives and poison to wild animal species. In carnivores, multiple bait uptake and bait monopolization by dominant individuals may reduce baiting effectiveness. This study investigated whether a conditioned-taste-aversion agent, levamisole, can be used to decrease bait consumption by individual wild foxes Vulpes vulpes .
Consumption of anthelmintic fox baits by target and non-target mammals in Japan
Russian Journal of Theriology, 2021
Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, which uses red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a principle definitive host. To decrease E. multilocularis prevalence in red foxes, feeding the "fox bait" containing anthelmintic praziquantel to red foxes is effective. However, a previous investigation conducted in Hokkaido, Japan showed that raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes viverrinus albus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), domestic cats (Felis catus), and murids frequently consumed fox baits without the anthelmintic praziquantel, suggesting they compete with red foxes for the bait. On the other hand, anthelmintic praziquantel has a bitter taste and unpleasant odor to dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats. The inclusion of anthelmintic praziquantel in the bait may deter the consumption of fox baits by nontarget mammals. Therefore, by using camera traps, we examined the seasonal consumption of fox baits with the anthelmintic praziquantel by mammals in Memuro, Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan, from May to October, 2019. We found that red foxes, raccoons, raccoon dogs, murids, and Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) frequently consumed fox baits. Therefore, the bitterness and smell of the bait do not efficiently work to prevent consumption by non-target mammals. Of those, raccoon dogs were most frequent consumers of the fox bait. Raccoons and Eurasian red squirrels also frequently consumed the fox bait, especially in spring and in autumn, respectively. These results show competition for fox baits by non-target mammals. This should be considered for planning of the baiting campaign.