Denning and home-range characteristics of breeding arctic foxes in Svalbard

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Prestrud, Pål
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1992
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Svalbard; Alopex lagopus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-178; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z92-178

Home range, den density, and use of dens of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in Svalbard were investigated through systematic den surveys, ear tagging of pups, and tracking of radio-collared animals. The mean home range for three breeding vixens was 48 km 2 . Home-range estimates based on occupied dens were between 46 and 75 km 2 . This is larger than recorded for arctic foxes elsewhere, and may be related to the absence of small mammals and, consequently, to a more scattered prey base in Svalbard. Home-range size was apparently not related to variations in the availability of food among years or among seasons. The density of all dens recorded was 1/24 km 2 . As a consequence of landscape patterns, these dens were more clustered than if they were randomly dispersed. However, dens with litters in 1986 (1 den/75 km 2 ) were more widely spaced than if randomly distributed, indicating territoriality among arctic foxes. Most dens were in use throughout the year. Some litters were relocated or subdivided among several dens.