Seasonal and circadian changes in activity rates of adult farm blue foxes

Abstract

The present paper reports systematic activity rates obtained from year-round video recordings of farmbred blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) housed singly in conventional wire-mesh cages (107 cm wide x 110 long x 70 cm high). Subjects were 9 males and 13 females. Mean whole-year activity rates were slightly higher in males (394 ± 116 min/24 h; mean ± SD) than females (349 ± 111 min/24 h). Significant (P<0.001) seasonal variations were found in the activity rate of both sexes. Females were most active in May (539 ± 157 min/24 h) and males in June (471 ± 128 min/24 h). Lowest activity rates were in September. Activity rates of males, in particular, tended to increase at the approach of the breeding season in March. Seasonal activity patterns of farmed foxes resembled that of foxes living in the wild. Circadian activity was concentrated on farm work hours (0800-1600) in winter, but not in summer. Typically farmed blue foxes were most active between sunrise and sunset. Diurnal pattern of farmed foxes is markedly different to wild foxes which typically exhibit a more nocturnal pattern of activity.