Den Use by Arctic Foxes in Northern Alaska

Eberhardt, L.E.; Garrott, Robert A.; Hanson, W.C.

doi:10.2307/1380754

Cited by 62 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This study suggests that the difficulty in reaching juvenile foxes in baiting campaigns is likely to be due to their reduced ranging behaviour and the concentration of their activity at secure sites, behaviour which appears to be typical of the canids. Studies on wolves Canis lupus (van Ballenberghe et al 1975), red foxes (Storm et al 1976), arctic foxes Alopex lagopus (Eberhardt et al 1983) and coyotes Canis .atrans (Harrison et al 1991) all found that cubs were initially reared at secure underground sites, the litter sometimes being split between two or more such dens, ard that early movements were concentrated around these sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ranging behaviour of juvenile red foxes and its implications for management

Robertson

Baker

Harris³

2000

Acta Theriol.

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S. 2000. Ranging behaviour of juvenile red foxes and its implications for management. Acta Theriologica 45: 525-535.The diurnal and nocturnal movement patterns of juvenile foxes Vulpes vulpes (Linneaus, 1758) were investigated in Bristol, UK. Juvenile and adult foxes were radio-tracked between May and December in three consecutive years. In the months preceding the main dispersal period (May-September), cubs showed a gradual increase in the area over which they ranged, and this was reflected both in the use of diurnal lying-up sites and nocturnal patterns of movement. However, their behaviour was highly focused at secure den sites and rendezvous sites. There was no significant difference in the movement patterns of male and female cubs. By the end of August, the nocturnal movement patterns of cubs were comparable with resident adult animals with the exception of their average speed of travel. During the onset of the main dispersal period (October-December) subadults showed the same movement patterns as adults. These results are discussed within the context of fox management by the distribution of baits. It is proposed that the low bait uptake rate of juveniles is associated with their limited ranging behaviour as cubs, and with differences in patterns of range utilisation as subadults.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ranging behaviour of juvenile red foxes and its implications for management

Robertson

Baker

Harris³

2000

Acta Theriol.

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“…Research on foxes in Arctic Alaska has focused primarily on Arctic foxes in relation to oilfield development (Eberhardt, 1977;Fine, 1980;Garrott, 1980;Eberhardt et al, 1982Eberhardt et al, , 1983Garrott et al, 1984;Ballard et al, 2000;Pamperin et al, 2006). While Eberhardt (1977) included both species in his research on the biology of foxes on the North Slope of the Brooks Range, red foxes were confined almost entirely to the foothills at that time, and he reported only one record of a red fox seen on the Arctic Coastal Plain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifts in Fox Den Occupancy in the Greater Prudhoe Bay Area, Alaska

Stickney¹,

Obritschkewitsch²,

Burgess³

2014

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Although shifts in the distribution of red foxes into areas previously dominated by Arctic foxes have been documented over wide areas of the circumpolar North, no such documentation exists yet for the Alaskan Arctic. Fox research in the greater Prudhoe Bay area from the 1970s through the early 1990s focused primarily on Arctic foxes in relation to oil development because red foxes were uncommon. A monitoring program in 2005 -12 included annual surveys of 31 -48 fox dens within 2 km of the road system. In 2005, 2006, and 2008, Arctic fox dens outnumbered those of red foxes, but from 2010 onward, the reverse was true. There is greater distance between natal dens of Arctic foxes and those of red foxes than between natal dens within each species, suggesting that Arctic foxes avoid red fox denning territories. Of dens in our study that were used by Arctic foxes prior to 2005, 50% have since been occupied by red foxes. Red foxes displaced Arctic foxes from dens closest to oil field camps, pads, and other facilities, and preyed on their pups. Access to anthropogenic food sources probably supports red foxes in the area. Predictions from climate change studies indicate the displacement of Arctic foxes by red foxes will continue in the Alaskan Arctic, although the change may be slower away from areas of human occupation and anthropogenic foods.Key words: Arctic fox, red fox, den occupancy, interference competition, anthropogenic food sources, climate change RÉSUMÉ. Malgré que des changements sur le plan de la répartition du renard roux dans des régions qui étaient auparavant dominées par le renard arctique aient été répertoriés dans une grande partie du Nord circumpolaire, ce n'est pas encore le cas de l'Arctique alaskien. L'étude des renards de la grande région de la baie Prudhoe, des années 1970 jusqu'au début des années 1990, portait principalement sur le renard arctique dans le cadre de la mise en valeur du pétrole, car le renard roux n'était pas courant à ce moment-là. Un programme de surveillance mené à bien de 2005 à 2012 a notamment pris la forme de dénombrements annuels de 31 à 48 tanières de renards dans un rayon de deux kilomètres du réseau routier. En 2005, en 2006 et en 2008, le nombre de tanières de renards arctiques dépassait le nombre de tanières de renards roux, mais à partir de 2010, c'était l'inverse. La distance qui sépare les tanières de mise bas des renards arctiques de celles des renards roux est plus grande que la distance qui sépare les tanières de mise bas au sein de chacune des espèces, ce qui laisse entendre que le renard arctique évite les territoires de mise bas du renard roux. Parmi les tanières visées par notre étude qui étaient utilisées par les renards arctiques avant 2005, 50 % d'entre elles sont depuis occupées par des renards roux. Les renards roux ont supplanté les renards arctiques qui occupaient les tanières situées plus près des campements de champs pétrolifères, des zones tampons et d'autres installations, et ils ont attaqué leurs petits. L'accès aux sources alimentaires...

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“…Eberhardt et al (1983) found the density of arctic fox dens in the Prudhoe Bay oil-field area to be about three times that in the undeveloped Colville River delta west of the oil fields. The oil-field fox population also was more dense and underwent less dramatic fluctuations than that in the Colville delta (Eberhardt et al, 1982).…”

Section: Snow Goosementioning

confidence: 95%

Effects of Arctic Alaska Oil Development on Brant and Snow Geese

Truett¹,

Miller²,

Kertell³

1997

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) and lesser snow geese (Chen c. caerulescens) breeding in and near arctic Alaska oil fields could be affected by oil development actions such as releases of contaminants, alteration of tundra surfaces, creation of impoundments, and human activities. These actions could affect geese directly (e.g., through oil spills) or indirectly (e.g., by altering food supplies or predator populations). Studies to date indicate no changes in the distribution, abundance, or reproduction of these geese that clearly can be attributed to development; rather, their numbers and recruitment have responded in the oil fields, as elsewhere, mainly to weather and predation. When snowmelt in spring is later than usual, the birds postpone or forego nesting, with consequent diminishment in recruitment. Predation by arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus), glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus), and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) sometimes causes substantial losses of eggs and young, and predation by ravens (Corvus corax) has also been observed. Development-related changes in weather (microclimate) and loss of feeding habitat have involved small percentages of the total areas traditionally used, and populations of the birds probably have not been affected by these changes. Some studies and observations suggest that development has elevated local populations of some predators, but whether the level of predation on geese has in consequence risen above that which would have occurred in the absence of development is unknown; further investigation of this mechanism of potential impact is recommended.Key words: Brant, Branta bernicla, snow goose, Chen caerulescens, oil development, Alaska, impact assessment, predation, nutrition RÉSUMÉ. La bernache noire (Branta bernicla nigricans) et la petite oie des neiges (Chen c. caerulescens) nichant dans les champs pétrolifères de l'Alaska ou à proximité pourraient être affectées par des actes reliés à l'exploitation pétrolière, tels que le déversement d'agents de pollution, les modifications à la toundra de surface, la création de bassins, et par l'activité humaine. Ces interventions pourraient affecter les oies de façon directe (p. ex., par le biais de déversements de pétrole) ou indirecte (p. ex., en modifiant l'approvisionnement alimentaire ou les populations de prédateurs). Jusqu'à l'heure actuelle, les études ne montrent pas de changements dans la distribution, l'abondance ou la reproduction de ces oies, dont la cause puisse être clairement attribuée à l'exploitation; dans les champs pétrolifères, le nombre d'oies et leur augmentation ont surtout réagi, comme ailleurs, au climat et à la prédation. Quand la fonte des neiges printanière a lieu plus tard que d'habitude, les oiseaux retardent la ponte ou s'abstiennent de pondre, ce qui entraîne moins d'augmentation. La prédation par le renard arctique (Alopex lagopus), le goéland bourgmestre (Larus hyperboreus) et le grizzli (Ursus arctos) entraîne parfois d'importantes pertes d'oeufs et d'oisons, et on a également observé...

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Den Use by Arctic Foxes in Northern Alaska

Cited by 62 publications

References 6 publications

Ranging behaviour of juvenile red foxes and its implications for management

Ranging behaviour of juvenile red foxes and its implications for management

Shifts in Fox Den Occupancy in the Greater Prudhoe Bay Area, Alaska

Effects of Arctic Alaska Oil Development on Brant and Snow Geese

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