An Ecological Study of the Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in the Oklahoma Panhandle

Kilgore,

doi:10.2307/2423986

Cited by 105 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Swift Foxes were referred to as the "burrowing fox" by Lewis and Clark and are considered one of the most fossorial canids in North America because they use dens throughout the year (Kilgore 1969;Egoscue 1979). Swift Foxes spend the majority of diurnal hours in dens or near den entrances, often concurrently with a mate (Cutter 1958;Kitchen et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Swift Foxes may modify burrows dug by other animals such as American Badgers (Taxidea taxus), ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.) or Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), or dig their own dens (Kilgore 1969;Hillman and Sharps 1978;Cameron 1984;Pruss 1999). Dens have been found in a variety of habitat types including shortand mid-grass prairie, grazed prairie, cultivated fields, fence rows, and rock outcrops (Cutter 1958;Hines 1980;Cameron 1984;Uresk and Sharps 1986;Rongstad et al 1989;Pruss 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dens have been found in a variety of habitat types including shortand mid-grass prairie, grazed prairie, cultivated fields, fence rows, and rock outcrops (Cutter 1958;Hines 1980;Cameron 1984;Uresk and Sharps 1986;Rongstad et al 1989;Pruss 1999). Occasionally, dens have been associated with man-made structures such as culverts, buildings, and cemetery gravesites with a concrete cap (Kilgore 1969;Hillman and Sharps 1978;Jackson and Choate 2000 (Hillman and Sharps 1978;Cameron 1984;Uresk and Sharps 1986;Pruss 1999;Harrison 2003). However, dens also have been found in level, open areas and at the base of hills (Kilgore 1969;Hines 1980;Cameron 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Occasionally, dens have been associated with man-made structures such as culverts, buildings, and cemetery gravesites with a concrete cap (Kilgore 1969;Hillman and Sharps 1978;Jackson and Choate 2000 (Hillman and Sharps 1978;Cameron 1984;Uresk and Sharps 1986;Pruss 1999;Harrison 2003). However, dens also have been found in level, open areas and at the base of hills (Kilgore 1969;Hines 1980;Cameron 1984). Den entrance characteristics vary among seasons and individual dens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Den entrance characteristics vary among seasons and individual dens. There are indications that natal dens typically have more entrances than non-natal dens (Kilgore 1969;Hillman and Sharps 1978). Hines (1980) reported that Swift Foxes seem to select for entrances with west and east exposures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple Scale Den Site Selection by Swift Foxes, <em>Vulpes velox</em>, in Southeastern Colorado

2006

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Predation by Coyotes (Canis latrans) is a major source of mortality in Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) populations. Year-round den use by Swift Foxes is likely to be a predator avoidance strategy. Due to the importance of denning to Swift Fox ecology, we recorded den site selection of Swift Foxes in southeastern Colorado. Den site selection was recorded at two scales: microhabitat characteristics at the den and den placement within the home range. The number of den entrances, height and width of each entrance, aspect, hill position, slope, percent rock in soil, vegetative cover, and horizontal foliar density of 42 Swift Fox dens were examined during December 1999 – April 2000. This was compared to the same microhabitat characteristics at 42 random sites within Swift Fox home ranges to determine if Swift Foxes were using site characteristics according to their availability. Our results indicated that Swift Foxes were not highly selective of den sites based on the microhabitat characteristics evaluated in this study, although Swift Foxes selected areas of intermediate rock percentages. In addition, Swift Foxes were radio-tracked throughout the sample period and the location and frequency of use of known dens were recorded. Within the core area of home ranges, Swift Foxes used more dens (mean = 3.51 ± 1.70 (SD)), and had a higher frequency of use of dens (mean = 8.20 ± 6.01) than in the mid-range area (number of dens, mean = 0.90 ± 0.94; frequency, mean = 1.27 ± 2.12) and the boundary area (number of dens, mean = 0.34 ± 0.53; frequency, mean = 0.45 ± 0.93) of the home range. We discuss our results in terms of the importance of dens in facilitating escape from Coyotes. These results illustrate the need for examining den site selection at multiple scales to determine all selection factors, and to provide information useful for recovery and management efforts for this species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple Scale Den Site Selection by Swift Foxes, <em>Vulpes velox</em>, in Southeastern Colorado

2006

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Wildlife Diets

2010

Insects and Wildlife

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Is time partitioning the currency of coexistence for a grassland canid community?

2022

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Habitat and diet preferences are often considered major aspects of niches differentiation among species; however, partitioning of habitat and resource use temporally is often overlooked in modeling coexistence. The plasticity of temporal activity patterns of individuals may influence the species' response to selective forces and long-term persistence. Temporal avoidance may be a mechanism by which subordinate species can reduce the likelihood of direct competition with dominant sympatric species. Here, we examine temporal activity patterns of three canid species (swift fox Vulpes velox, red fox Vulpes vulpes and coyote Canis latrans) to determine how temporal activity patterns and activity overlap varies among species. We found that all species presented seasonal differences in activity patterns. When activity patterns were compared among species, the estimates of activity overlap in the spring season (i.e. breeding and puprearing periods) were higher than the activity patterns in the fall (i.e. juvenile dispersal and pair-formation periods); however, activity pattern overlap among species was significant only during the fall. Overall, these patterns revealed a close temporal overlap between swift fox (subordinate species) and both red fox and coyote (dominant species), which provides insight into conditions under which time partitioning may not be as clear as predicted, and other mechanisms may facilitate species coexistence. Considering swift fox population decline and distribution contraction across the North American grasslands, investigating temporal activity patterns of the canid species may reveal the implications of altering such patterns for individual animals, populations and ecosystems.

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An Ecological Study of the Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in the Oklahoma Panhandle

Cited by 105 publications

References 31 publications

Multiple Scale Den Site Selection by Swift Foxes, <em>Vulpes velox</em>, in Southeastern Colorado

Multiple Scale Den Site Selection by Swift Foxes, <em>Vulpes velox</em>, in Southeastern Colorado

Wildlife Diets

Is time partitioning the currency of coexistence for a grassland canid community?

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