Foxes with transmitters in Zuid-Limburg

In an effort to decrease the predation on newly released hamsters Cricetus cricetus foxes Vulpes vulpes are shot in the hamster reserves and in a narrow circle around them. One of the research methods to evaluate the effectiveness of this fox management, is a study of the behaviour of foxes just outside the area where foxes are being killed. If these foxes would quickly ‘fill up’ the empty places left by their dead neighbours, especially during spring and summer when the hamsters are active, the management circle around the hamster reserves should probably be widened. In order to study the behaviour of foxes, several individuals were caught and fitted with a transmitter in late winter of 2006. The fox research in this southernmost province of the Netherlands is closely followed by the filmers Musch & Tinbergen, who are making a documentary about the relation between foxes and man. Her are some pictures of the fox research.


The long lasting cold this winter was very useful, because it made the many badgers Meles meles living in the research area rather inactive. They should otherwise have been caught very often in the fox traps. Photo: Jaap Mulder	The sole active badger leaves a clear trail on the white frosted meadows. Photo: Jaap Mulder

On a fine morning fox ‘Jan’ is caught near the village of Puth. Its name is derived from filmer Jan Musch, left in the picture. Photo: Tijs Tinbergen.	The teeth of fox Jan clearly show its age: no wear and tear at all, so Jan is a young from last year. Photo: Tijs Tinbergen

The collar with transmitter is screwed on, while the eyes of the fox are covered with a piece of old trouser. Photo: Tijs Tinbergen	Ready for take-off… Photo: Tijs Tinbergen

Collecting data is done with a rotating antenna on the roof of a jeep, tracking the fox at night. The places where the animal is pinpointed (‘fixes’) are plotted on a map every ten minutes or so. Photo: Tijs Tinbergen	The first results indicate that this one-year-old fox is a territory-holder: it occupies a steady and limited area (about 70 ha). The straight lines on the map form a km-grid. In May it was seen at a den with five frolicking cubs.