Premium
Evaluation of Camera Trapping for Estimating Red Fox Abundance
Author(s) -
SARMENTO PEDRO,
CRUZ JOANA,
EIRA CATARINA,
FONSECA CARLOS
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2008-288
Subject(s) - vulpes , abundance (ecology) , camera trap , geography , trapping , ecology , biology , habitat , predation
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 (M h ) model of the software program CAPTURE. Estimated density ranged from 0.91 ± 0.12 foxes/km 2 to 0.74 ± 0.02 foxes/km 2 . 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.