Urban Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Population Estimates and Habitat Requirements in Several British Cities

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
(1) Detailed surveys in nine English towns-Bath, Bournemouth, Poole, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton-were undertaken to calculate the numbers of foxes present. Locally, densities were as high as five fox family groups km-2, but mean densities for each city were much lower, ranging from 0.188 (Wolverhampton) to 2.035 (Poole) fox family groups km-2. (2) The distribution and numbers of foxes in six of these urban areas, together with data already available for the city of Bristol, were correlated with habitat variables based on the type of land use and sociological features of the human population. (3) Foxes were found to occur most frequently in residential areas, and less often in city centres and around industry. They preferred areas of owner-occupied housing, particularly when the housing density and the number of people per household were also low. Foxes were less common in residential areas consisting of council-rented housing.