Foxes at your front door? Habitat selection and home range estimation of suburban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Abstract The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is one of the most adaptable carnivorans, thriving in cities across globe. We used GPS-tracking five suburban foxes high-density residential suburbs Perth, Western Australia to quantify (1) their habitat selection and (2) home range area. All showed statistically significant avoidance locations (p < 0.001) preference for parkland 0.001), with native vegetation reserves, golf courses, water reserves showing disproportionately greater use. Landuse category also influenced movements, moving quickest (i.e., commuting) proximity roads slowest foraging) when they were further from roads. Three females had core ranges (50% autocorrelated-corrected kernel density estimate; AKDE c averaging 37 ± 20 ha or 95% 208 196 ha. One male a 95 349 but other covered an area ~ times this: using 371 7,368 . extensive movement patterns we describe are likely be common urban foxes, half published estimates (principally based on VHF data) excluding data ‘lost’ individuals animals that ‘excursions’. It these exploiters have therefore been grossly underestimated date. Further application GPS trackers allow remote download will vastly improve our understanding exploitation resources by foxes.