The Efficiency of Live-Capture Traps for the Study of Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) Cubs: A Three-Year Study in Poland

• Main Authors: Ewa J. Mierzejewska, Dorota Dwużnik, Katarzyna Tołkacz, Anna Bajer, Marek Panek, Maciej Grzybek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: wild canids; trapping success; trap rate; trapping methodology; weather
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/3/374

Safe and efficient techniques for the live capture of carnivores are limited. In this study, we identified some of the factors that could affect the success of capturing red fox cubs with live capture traps (also known as cage traps). During a three-year period, we analysed 32 captures of 25 fox cubs (1.3 captures/fox). We assessed the impact of the following factors: sex of animals, month of trapping, weather conditions recorded for each trap-night, the willingness of cubs to explore and enter cage traps, the researchers&#8217; activity around den complexes before trapping and distances to the nearest village or farm. The overall trap rate (32 captures, including recaptured cubs) and the trap rate for individual cubs (25 captures) was 11.2 cubs/100 trap-nights and 8.7/100 trap-nights, respectively. Animals other than foxes were captured only three times, thus the selectivity of the cage-trapping method was high (32/35 = 91.4%). The probability of capturing one cub per night was 70.2% (32 cubs/47 nights). Cubs inhabiting dens in the vicinity of human settlements were less likely to explore and enter traps. Vixens were more likely to relocate their litters if the activity of the staff setting the traps was intense at the trapping site. The success of trapping was higher during poor weather as, for example, during rain or thunderstorms. None of the trapped animals suffered any injuries. Whereas cage trapping can be an effective and safe capture method for juvenile foxes, capture efficiency is affected by the experience of the trappers and a range of other factors including weather and distance to human settlements.