Variation in the diet of red foxes on Scottish moorland in relation to prey abundance

The diet of red fort Vulpes vulpes was investigated through analysis of 340 seats collected during 1992-1996 from moorland in south-west Scotland. Rodents, gamebirds, lagomorphs, carrion and insectivores were the most frequently occurring food types. Fox diet and prey abundance were compared between heather dominant and grass dominant habitat types within the study area. Rodents were the most frequently occurring food type in each habitat and occurred in 63%, of seats overall. Rodents occurred more often in seats from grass dominant sites while gamebirds and lagomorphs were more frequent in seats from heather dominant sires. The occurrence of rodents in winter fox seats increased with rodent abundance. In contrast, the occurrence of gamebirds in winter fox seats was unrelated to gamebird abundance but negatively related to rodent abundance. It appeared that foxes switched to gamebirds in years, or habitats, where rodents were uncommon.