USGS - science for a changing world

Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

  Home About NPWRC Our Science Staff Employment Contacts Common Questions About the Site

Wildlife Monographs

Red Fox Predation on Breeding Ducks
in Midcontinent North America

Tables

Table 12. Estimated contribution (biomass) of dabbling ducks to the prey biomass requirements of typical size fox families in 2 physiographic regions comprising Barnes, Kidder, and Stutsman counties, North Dakota, during fox denning seasons, 1969-73.

Area and Year Ducks consumeda (N) Duck biomass consumedb (kg) Duck in dietc (%)
Drift plain
1969 65.9 51.4 31.5
1970 37.0 28.9 17.7
1971 16.1 12.6 7.7
1972 28.5 22.2 13.6
1973 17.5 13.7 8.4
Avg.     15.8
Missouri Coteau
1969 57.8 38.7 23.7
1970 44.8 30.0 18.4
1971 35.69 23.9 14.7
1972 43.0 28.8 17.7
1973 25.3 17.0 10.4
Avg.     17.0

aFrom Table 11.
bDerived by multiplying the average weight of ducks taken by foxes in the Drift Plain (0.78 kg) or Missouri Coteau (0.67 kg) by the respective number of ducks estimated consumed.
cDerived by dividing biomass of duck consumed by the 163 kg total biomass requirement of typical size fox family (2 adults and 5 pups) during the 13-week fox denning season (Sargeant 1978).

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/redfox/table12.htm
Page Contact Information: Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 05:54:48 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww54]