Refining Capture and Collaring Protocols for Red Foxes

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Animal Behaviour

Background:

• Wildlife capture is essential for ecological studies but poses welfare challenges.
• Detailed capture protocols are often not shared internationally, hindering knowledge exchange.
• Trap-shy species like the red fox require specialized trapping techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share detailed capture protocols for improving trapping success in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).
• To optimize animal welfare during wildlife capture operations.
• To provide practical guidance for researchers trapping difficult species, especially in urban environments.

Main Methods:

• Methodological refinements for trapping urban red foxes in Dublin, Ireland (n=16) and rural Tuscany, Italy (n=3).
• Utilized remote transmission camera traps and remote trap alert systems for efficient monitoring.
• Developed a lightweight collar drop-off mechanism to avoid re-capture for tag removal.

Main Results:

• Successful capture of red foxes using refined methods.
• Identified rainfall as a significant factor affecting capture likelihood in Dublin, while temperature did not.
• Demonstrated the utility of remote monitoring and collar drop-off solutions.

Conclusions:

• Sharing detailed capture protocols enhances research efficiency and animal welfare.
• Recommended practices include setting multiple sites, minimizing fox time in traps, and using remote monitoring.
• A checklist is provided to assist researchers in capturing foxes and other challenging species.