Scent marking by red foxes in Central Poland during the winter season

Abstract

Using a method of snow-tracking the characteristic of objects marked by foxes Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758, was determined. It was found that foxes often marked undurable objects: low plants, fallen sticks and twigs, sites of hunting for prey, carrion, and flat surfaces of snow. Marks placed on such objects predominated among all marks. Males more actively than females deposited their urine marks on more permanent objects (trunks, stumps, stones, burrows, knolls etc.) whareas females more frequently marked flat surface of snow. Mean frequency of scent marking was estimated as 4.41 urine marks and 0.35 scats per 1km of fox traiI. Decrease in intensity of defaecation as an effect of decrease in food consumption in certain periods e.g. at rut, was observed. The increase in urine marking activity in the second half of winter, mostly in the forest area, may be interpreted as a defence of vicinity of the future den. Spatial pattern of marking in fox territories was positiveIy correlated with rodent density. Foxes marked border and inner parts of their territories with simiIar intensity.