FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Vulpes vulpes | Red Fox 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Red foxes are very mobile and probably escape most fires.  There are no
reports of direct red fox mortality due to fire [19].


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Red foxes commonly inhabit areas with a high proportion of edge.  Fire
that creates a mosaic of burned and unburned areas is probably the most
beneficial to red foxes.  Periodic fire may help to maintain habitat for
many prey species of red fox.  Many small mammal populations increase
rapidly in response to an increase in food availability subsequent to
burning [14,19,22].  In Alaska red foxes should benefit during the
first 10 to 20 years following fire due to the increase in northern
red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus) and meadow voles [38].  Fire
often improves hare and rabbit forage quality and quantity for two or
more growing seasons [19].  Wagle [37] reported that fire suppression in
grasslands is detrimental to populations of small bird and mammal
herbivores due to organic matter accumulation and reduced plant vigor.

Many fruiting shrubs that are important late summer and fall foods of
red foxes such as blackberries (Rubus spp.), blueberries, and
raspberries, do not fruit the year of burning but produce the most fruit
2 to 4 years after fire pruning [14,19].


FIRE USE : 
Prescribed fire that favors small mammals by enhancing forage and fruit
production would probably maximize the abundance of food for red foxes.
Red foxes would probably benefit from prescribed fire that increases the
proportion of edge and the complexity of the vegetation mosaic.


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Vulpes vulpes | Red Fox