Variation in red fox, Vulpes vulpes, summer diets in northwest British Columbia and southwest Yukon.

Abstract

Above the boreal forest habitat arctic ground squirrel Spermophilus parryii, voles and mice predominated, especially in whelp scats from dens, but also in adult scats collected elsewhere. Non-den scats contained significantly fewer ground squirrel and more voles and mice remains. Scats at subalpine dens were significantly different from those at alpine dens, the latter containing fewer ground squirrel items. Scats collected from the boreal forest zone were dominated by snowshoe hare Lepus americanus, and a greater diversity of species. The considerable dietary plasticity and opportunism of red fox predation in this heterogeneous northern environment is shown.-from Authors