During the summer of 2013 we monitored red fox dens in Dutchess County, New York. Foxes often place dens immediately adjacent to homes. We think this may be an adaptation to living with coyotes. Foxes are finding refuges near homes that coyotes are morely likely to avoid. Most of the time the adult foxes were off looking for food, but here the vixen returns to nurse her pups. We think that areas near fox dens may have lower disease risk because if foxes are able to suppress small mammals, which carry the pathogens that infect ticks.
Quantitative Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Environmental Genetics
