ABSTRACT
The red fox inhabits much of North America and is common in northern Europe and Russia. In many places, especially the midwestern states, hunting and trapping regulations are based on the number of foxes in the population during a given year in a particular region. Another approach to censusing foxes is simply to develop an index to the population and determine whether the population is up or down in a given year. Population estimates are best derived through a survey of active dens during the pup-rearing season. If the researcher or wildlife manager is not particularly interested in density estimates, but only in relative changes in population levels, several methods have been used to develop indices. Place scent stations consisting of a capsule of suitable commercial scent along unpaved or secondary roads at 0.3-mi intervals.
