Abstract
The nature reserve Serra da Malcata, Portugal, was recently considered a site for Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) reintroduction. Because of potential disease risk posed by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the area, a reliable estimate of fox abundance was critical for a dependable reintroduction program. We adapted camera-trapping techniques for estimating red fox abundance in the reserve. From July 2005 to August 2007, we conducted 7 camera-trapping sessions, allowing for individual identification of foxes by physical characteristics. We estimated abundance using the heterogeneity (Mh) model of the software program CAPTURE. Estimated density ranged from 0.91 ± 0.12 foxes/km2 to 0.74 ± 0.02 foxes/km2. By estimating red fox density, it is possible to define the number of foxes that must be sampled to assess the presence of potential fox-transmitted diseases that may affect lynx reintroduction.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1207-1212 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2009 |
Keywords
- camera trap
- capturemarkrecapture
- density estimate
- Program CAPTURE
- red fox
- Vulpes vulpes