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Home range and core area characteristics of urban and rural coyotes and red foxes in southern Wisconsin
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  • Morgan Farmer,
  • Timothy Van Deelen,
  • Daniel Storm,
  • Marcus Mueller,
  • David Drake
Morgan Farmer
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Corresponding Author:mjmorales@wisc.edu

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Timothy Van Deelen
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Daniel Storm
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
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Marcus Mueller
Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control
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David Drake
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Abstract

Many factors, including individual- and species-specific traits and resource requirements as well as landscape characteristics, influence second-order habitat selection and home range characteristics such as size, shape, stability, and overlap. By comparing home range characteristics across individuals, species, and landscapes, we can draw conclusions regarding whether and how different factors influence home range selection. Our objectives were to quantify home range characteristics of VHF- and GPS-collared coyotes and red foxes in southern Wisconsin, including home range size and shape, home range stability, and inter- and intraspecific overlap, and to review current literature on coyote and red fox home range characteristics for comparison and context. On average, urban coyotes had smaller, more circular home ranges with greater intraspecific overlap than rural coyotes; although, rural coyotes had greater home range stability. Similarly, urban red foxes had smaller, more circular home ranges with greater intraspecific overlap than urban coyotes, with no difference in stability between urban coyotes and red foxes. Our results corresponded with trends identified from literature review; however, we did find greater interspecific overlap between urban coyotes and red foxes than has been previously reported. Our results provide further evidence that intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as body size, resource predictability and availability as well as the physical environment, influence home range selection of coyotes and red foxes.
03 Apr 2024Submitted to Wildlife Biology
10 Apr 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
17 Sep 20241st Revision Received
17 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
17 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
17 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 Oct 20242nd Revision Received
07 Oct 2024Submission Checks Completed
07 Oct 2024Assigned to Editor
07 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending