Home range size and habitat use of gray foxes on the Copiah County Wildlife Management area in Mississippi

wenty-five gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were radio-monitored on the Copiah County Wildlife Management area in Mississippi from October 1980 to February 1985. The relationship of sample size (number of observations), population density, territoriality, and Cricetid size prey abundance upon home range size was investigated. Telemetry sample size was found to significantly (P ;Population density was monitored by scent station indices and trap effort. Scent station index was an unreliable estimator of fox density, varying significantly (P ;Marginal overlap of adult fox convex polygon home ranges provided strong evidence for territoriality. However, extensive home range overlap was observed between juveniles and adults. Neighboring foxes did not invade the area vacated by a deceased fox, nor did they significantly increase their home range size. Pair bonding among adults was evident.;Eleven gray foxes were intensively monitored during the fall (SEP-NOV) and winter (DEC-FEB) of 1983-1985 to identify relationships between Cricetid prey abundance and home range size. Capture rate (captures per trap night) was used as an index of Cricetid prey abundance. No significant (P ;Gray fox habitat use patterns were also investigated and compared to prey abundance. Cricetid prey abundance, prey biomass and species richness (number of different species) were measured in low and high use areas. No significant (P...