Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Although urbanisation is reshaping the ecology of many free-ranging mammals, the dietary responses of omnivorous carnivore species to human-altered environments remain under-explored. This study investigated how snowfall and the degree of urbanization affect the feeding habits of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Umeå, northern Sweden. Scat samples were collected in urban and semi-urban areas both pre- and post-snowfall, and analysed to determine food composition, including anthropogenic items. Non-parametric permutation tests were then used to compare dietary patterns across periods and environments. Similar significant seasonal shifts were revealed in both study sites: natural prey dominated in winter, whereas anthropogenic resources, including food waste and plastic, remained negligible in both periods . These findings highlight the flexibility of red foxes in exploiting resources in a highly human-reshaped environment and underline the potential impacts of urbanism on their foraging ecology. Understanding these patterns is crucial for urban wildlife management and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts.