Long-term population trends of red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) in Hokkaido, Japan

  • Kurumada Toshio
    Eastern Hokkaido Wildlife Research Station, Hokkaido Institute of Environmental Sciences Present address: Samani town office
  • Uraguchi Kohji
    Hokkaido Institute of Public Health
  • Tamada Katsumi
    Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hokkaido Research Organization
  • Uno Hiroyuki
    Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hokkaido Research Organization
  • Kaji Koichi
    Department of Ecoregion Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

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Other Title
  • 北海道における15年間のアカギツネ個体数の動向
  • ホッカイドウ ニ オケル 15ネンカン ノ アカギツネ コタイスウ ノ ドウコウ

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We analyzed population trends of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Hokkaido, Japan, from the number of foxes observed by spotlight surveys conducted in 1992–2006. The relative abundance indices of foxes in three of six study areas (Abashiri, Tokachi and Konsen) decreased to one-third in the 1990s. We were not able to detect the influence of hunting and food resources on these population declines. Since the timing of the decline in the fox population co-occurred approximately with the outbreak of sarcoptic mange in these areas, we strongly suspect that this epizootic participated in the reduction of fox populations. Though the mange had also spread among foxes in the three remaining study areas (Douhoku, Kamikawa and Hidaka), the relative abundance indices of foxes in these study areas did not decrease, but the cause is unclear.<br>

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