The effects of red fox Vulpes vulpes faecal odours on the feeding behaviour of Orkney voles Microtus arvalis

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Calder, C. J., Gorman, M. L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1991
• Subjects: Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb03788.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1991.tb03788.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb03788.x; https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb03788.x

Orkney voles Microtus arvalis show avoidance of red fox Vulpes vulpes faecal odours, both in the laboratory and in the wild. Since these voles have been isolated from foxes since Neolithic times it is likely that these responses are innate rather than learned. When applied to young Scots pine saplings, the fox odour inhibited feeding by voles when alternative foods were available.