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Human–wildlife interactions are believed to be increasing in urban areas. In Britain, numerous media reports have stated that urban foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are becoming "bolder," thereby posing a risk to public safety. However, such claims overlook how an individual's personality might influence urban fox behavior. Personality determines multiple aspects of an animal's interactions with both conspecifics and its environment, and can have a significant impact on how people perceive wildlife. Furthermore, describing urban foxes as "bold" confounds two different but inter‐related behaviors, both of which influence an animal's propensity to take risks. Neophobia affects an animal's reaction to novelty, wariness its reaction to potential threats. Since urban wildlife frequently encounters both novel and threatening stimuli, a highly adaptable species such as the red fox might be predicted to exhibit reduced neophobia and wariness. We investigated how social status influenced both behaviors in Bristol's fox population. Dominant foxes were significantly more neophobic and warier than subordinates, which adopt a more exploratory and risk‐taking lifestyle to meet their energetic and other needs. We found no seasonal effect on neophobia and wariness, although this may be due to sample size. The presence of conspecifics decreased neophobia for dominants, and wariness for both dominants and subordinates. We highlight the importance of considering animal social status and personality when planning management protocols, since interventions that destabilize fox social groups are likely to increase the number of subordinate foxes in the population, thereby increasing rather than decreasing the number of interactions between humans and urban foxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife interactions are believed to be increasing worldwide, and a number of studies have analyzed the risks posed by larger carnivores. However, people can also perceive smaller species of carnivores as threatening, particularly in urban areas. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) started to colonize British cities in the 1930s, and there is growing public concern about foxes biting people, particularly babies. These events are generally described in the press as attacks and generate intense media coverage and speculation that foxes view human infants as potential prey. Because foxes rely primarily on auditory cues for hunting, we conducted acoustic playback experiments in the gardens of 15 residential houses in northwest Bristol, United Kingdom, in December 2015 and 11 gardens from May to June 2016 to determine whether urban foxes were attracted to infant distress calls (cries). Foxes were not more likely to be attracted to infant cries or laughs than silence, although a minority of foxes cautiously approached and contacted the source of both types of infant vocalization. Their behavior appeared to be investigative rather than aggressive or predatory. Our review of the incidents reported in the British media showed that most people were bitten or scratched while sleeping, and adults were more likely to be bitten than children. The nature of the interactions and the wounds inflicted suggest that the foxes were using their mouth or forefeet to investigate an unusual object. Most incidents occurred inside people's homes, even though it is unusual for foxes to enter houses. The data suggested that incidents where people were bitten were chance events, possibly involving a particularly bold fox. To minimize the risk to the public, more quantitative data are required on the age, social status, and health of the foxes that enter houses and those that bite people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades, camera traps have revolutionised the ability of biologists to undertake faunal surveys and estimate population densities, although identifying individuals of species with subtle markings remains challenging. We conducted a two-year camera-trapping study as part of a long-term study of urban foxes: our objectives were to determine whether red foxes could be identified individually from camera-trap photos, and highlight camera-trapping protocols and techniques to facilitate photo identification of species with few or subtle natural markings. We collected circa 800,000 camera-trap photos over 4945 camera days in suburban gardens in the city of Bristol, UK: 152,134 (19%) included foxes, of which 13,888 (9%) contained more than one fox. These provided 174,063 timestamped capture records of individual foxes; 170,923 were of foxes ≥ 3 months old. Younger foxes were excluded because they have few distinguishing features. We identified the individual (192 different foxes: 110 males, 49 females, 33 of unknown sex) in 168,417 (99%) of these capture records; the remainder could not be identified due to poor image quality or because key identifying feature(s) were not visible. We show that carefully designed survey techniques facilitate individual identification of subtly-marked species. Accuracy is enhanced by camera-trapping techniques that yield large numbers of high resolution, colour images from multiple angles taken under varying environmental conditions. While identifying foxes manually was labour-intensive, currently available automated identification systems are unlikely to achieve the same levels of accuracy, especially since different features were used to identify each fox, the features were often inconspicuous, and their appearance varied with environmental conditions. We discuss how studies based on low numbers of photos, or which fail to identify the individual in a significant proportion of photos, risk losing important biological information, and may come to erroneous conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflict can arise when bats roost in human dwellings and householders are affected adversely by their presence. In the United Kingdom, the exclusion of bats from roosts can be licensed under exceptional circumstances to alleviate conflict, but the fate of excluded bats and the impact on their survival and reproduction is not well understood. Using radio-tracking, we investigated the effects of exclusion on the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, a species that commonly roosts in buildings in Europe. Exclusions were performed under licence at five roosts in England in spring, when females were in the early stages of pregnancy. Following exclusion, all bats found alternative roosts and colonies congregated in nearby known roosts that had been used by radio-tagged bats prior to exclusion. We found no difference in roosting behaviour before and after exclusion. Both the frequency of roost switching and the type of roosts used by bats remained unchanged. We also found no change in foraging behaviour. Bats foraged in the same areas, travelled similar distances to reach foraging areas and showed similar patterns of habitat selection before and after exclusion. Population modelling suggested that any reduction in survival following exclusion could have a negative impact on population growth, whereas a reduction in productivity would have less effect. While the number of soprano pipistrelle exclusions currently licensed each year is likely to have little effect on local populations, the cumulative impacts of licensing the destruction of large numbers of roosts may be of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed two consecutive inspection reports for each of 136 British zoos made by government-appointed inspectors between 2005 and 2011 to assess how well British zoos were complying with minimum animal welfare standards; median interval between inspections was 1,107 days. There was no conclusive evidence for overall improvements in the levels of compliance by British zoos. Having the same zoo inspector at both inspections affected the outcome of an inspection; animal welfare criteria were more likely to be assessed as unchanged if the same inspector was present on both inspections. This, and erratic decisions as to whether a criterion applied to a particular zoo, suggest inconsistency in assessments between inspectors. Zoos that were members of a professional association (BIAZA) did not differ significantly from non-members in the overall number of criteria assessed as substandard at the second inspection but were more likely to meet the standards on both inspections and less likely to have criteria remaining substandard. Lack of consistency between inspectors, and the high proportion of zoos failing to meet minimum animal welfare standards nearly thirty years after the Zoo Licensing Act came into force, suggest that the current system of licensing and inspection is not meeting key objectives and requires revision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the reports of government-appointed inspectors from 192 zoos between 2005-2008 to provide the first review of how animal welfare was assessed in British zoos since the enactment of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. We examined the effects of whether or not a veterinarian was included in the inspection team, type of inspection, licence status of the zoo and membership of a zoo association on the inspectors' assessments of animal welfare standards in five areas that approximate to the Five Freedoms. At least 11% of full licence inspections did not comply with the legal requirement for two inspectors. The inspectors' reports were unclear as to how animal welfare was assessed, whether all animals or only a sub-sample had been inspected, and were based predominantly on welfare inputs rather than outcomes. Of 9,024 animal welfare assessments across the 192 zoos, 7,511 (83%) were graded as meeting the standards, 782 (9%) as substandard and the rest were not graded. Of the 192 zoos, 47 (24%) were assessed as meeting all the animal welfare standards. Membership of a zoo association was not associated with a higher overall assessment of animal welfare standards, and specialist collections such as Farm Parks and Other Bird collections performed least well. We recommend a number of changes to the inspection process that should lead to greater clarity in the assessment of animal welfare in British zoos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on exposure of non-targets to anticoagulant rodenticides have largely focussed on predatory birds and mammals; insectivores have rarely been studied. We investigated the exposure of 120 European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from throughout Britain to first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs and SGARs) using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC) and liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). The proportion of hedgehogs with liver SGAR concentrations detected by HPLC was 3–13% per compound, 23% overall. LCMS identified much higher prevalence for difenacoum and bromadiolone, mainly because of greater ability to detect low-level contamination. The overall proportion of hedgehogs with LCMS-detected residues was 57.5% (SGARs alone) and 66.7% (FGARs and SGARs combined); 27 (22.5%) hedgehogs contained >1 rodenticide. Exposure of insectivores and predators to anticoagulant rodenticides appears to be similar. The greater sensitivity of LCMS suggests that hitherto exposure of non-targets is likely to have been under-estimated using HPLC techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Amid growing concern about keeping exotic species as companion animals, nonhuman primates have been highlighted as inappropriate for private ownership. However, there has been no comprehensive review of the suitability of primates as pets, using a framework such as Schuppli and Fraser's (2000). Schuppli and Fraser incorporate welfare of the individual, of others, and of the environment. This article (a) examines the numbers, origins, ages, and ownership trends of primates kept as pets in the United Kingdom and (b) identifies a number of welfare, health, and environmental concerns. Overall, strong evidence supports the argument that primates are not suitable pets; it is unlikely that the welfare of pet primates can be adequately addressed in normal households. Finally, using unpublished data on complaints and inquiries received by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the study assesses the degree of public concern about the welfare of primates kept as pets in England and Wales. The article identifies a wide range of concerns about keeping pet primates and concludes that this practice should end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Urban areas are predicted to grow significantly in the foreseeable future because of increasing human population growth. Predicting the impact of urban development and expansion on mammal populations is of considerable interest due to possible effects on biodiversity and human-wildlife conflict. 2. The British government has recently announced a substantial housing programme to meet the demands of its growing population and changing socio-economic profile. This is likely to result in the construction of high-density, low-cost housing with small residential gardens. To assess the potential effects of this programme, we analysed the factors affecting the current pattern of use of residential gardens by a range of mammal species using a questionnaire distributed in wildlife and gardening magazines and via The Mammal Society. 3. Twenty-two species/species groups were recorded. However, the pattern of garden use by individual species was limited, with only six species/species groups (bats, red fox Vulpes vulpes, grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, mice, voles) recorded as frequent visitors to > 20% of gardens in the survey. 4. There was a high degree of association between the variables recorded in the study, such that it was difficult to quantify the effects of individual variables. However, all species/species groups appeared to be negatively affected by the increased fragmentation and reduced proximity of natural and semi-natural habitats, decreasing garden size and garden structure, but to differing degrees. Patterns of garden use were most clearly affected by house location (city, town, village, rural), with garden use declining with increasing urbanization for the majority of species/species groups, except red foxes and grey squirrels. Increasing urbanization is likely to be related to a wide range of interrelated factors, any or all of which may affect a range of mammal species. 5. Overall, the probable effects of the planned housing development programme in Britain are not likely to be beneficial to mammal populations, although the pattern of use examined in this study may represent patterns of habitat selection by species rather than differences in distribution or abundance. Consequently, additional data are required on the factors affecting the density of species within urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Disease epizootics can significantly influence host population dynamics and the structure and functioning of ecological communities. Sarcoptic mange Sarcoptes scabiei has dramatically reduced red fox populations Vulpes vulpes in several countries, including Britain, although impacts on demographic processes are poorly understood. We review the literature on the impact of mange on red fox populations, assess its current distribution in Britain through a questionnaire survey and present new data on resultant demographic changes in foxes in Bristol, UK. 2. A mange epizootic in Sweden spread across the entire country in < 10 years resulting in a decline in fox density of up to 95%; density remained lowered for 15–20 years. In Spain, mange has been enzootic for > 75 years and is widely distributed; mange presence was negatively correlated with habitat quality. 3. Localized outbreaks have occurred sporadically in Britain during the last 100 years. The most recent large-scale outbreak arose in the 1990s, although mange has been present in south London and surrounding environs since the 1940s. The questionnaire survey indicated that mange was broadly distributed across Britain, but areas of perceived high prevalence (> 50% affected) were mainly in central and southern England. Habitat type did not significantly affect the presence/absence of mange or perceived prevalence rates. Subjective assessments suggested that populations take 15–20 years to recover. 4. Mange appeared in Bristol's foxes in 1994. During the epizootic phase (1994–95), mange spread through the city at a rate of 0.6–0.9 km/month, with a rise in infection in domestic dogs Canis familiaris c. 1–2 months later. Juvenile and adult fox mortality increased and the proportion of females that reproduced declined but litter size was unaffected. Population density declined by > 95%. 5. In the enzootic phase (1996–present), mange was the most significant mortality factor. Juvenile mortality was significantly higher than in the pre-mange period, and the number of juveniles classified as dispersers declined. Mange infection reduced the reproductive potential of males and females: females with advanced mange did not breed; severely infected males failed to undergo spermatogenesis. In 2004, Bristol fox population density was only 15% of that in 1994. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To determine the relative influence of medicinal use, height and geographical range on the chronological sequence of the first verifiable printed records of 1239 native species of flowering plants in the UK. Location UK. Methods We used Cox proportional hazards models to provide a direct estimate of the influence through time of explanatory variables on the hazard function. Results In the period from 1538 to 1550, medicinal plants were 5–15 (95% confidence interval) times more likely to be discovered than non-medicinal plants. By 1600, 75% of medicinal plants had been discovered, and subsequently medicinal use had no significant influence on the probability of discovery. From 1538 to 1983, a 100-hectad increase in area resulted in a 4–6% increase in the probability of discovery. There was a small but significant decrease in the influence of area on the probability of discovery over the entire time period. In the same time period, a 10-fold increase in height resulted in a 3–35% increased probability of discovery. Main conclusions Our results demonstrate that the first written records (1538–1600) of UK flowering plants were very strongly influenced by the perceived medicinal properties of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are the principal food for many animals, including bats (Chiroptera), and all species of bats in the United Kingdom feed over agricultural habitats. Bat populations are declining throughout Europe, probably in part as a result of agricultural intensification. Organic farming prohibits the use of agrochemicals, a major component of agricultural intensification, making it an ideal control for a study of intensive agricultural systems. To evaluate the impact of agricultural intensification on bat foraging, we quantified the availability of bat prey by comparing nocturnal aerial insects captured within habitats on 24 matched pairs of organic and conventional farms. Insects were identified to family and moths to species. We compared the abundance of 18 insect families commonly eaten by bats in the United Kingdom between farm types and tested for correlations of abundance with bat activity. Insect abundance, species richness, and moth species diversity were significantly higher on organic farms than on conventional farms. Insect abundance was significantly higher in pastural and water habitats on organic farms than in the same habitats on conventional farms. Of the 18 insect families that are important components of the bat diet, 5 were significantly more abundant on organic farms overall. Some were also more abundant within organic pastural, woodland, and water habitats than on conventional farmland habitats. The activity of bats that mainly ate Lepidoptera was significantly correlated with the abundance of this order. Our observations suggest that agricultural intensification has a profound impact on nocturnal insect communities. Because bats are resource limited, a reduction in prey availability through agricultural intensification will adversely affect bat populations. Less-intensive farming benefits British bat populations by providing and maintaining diverse and structurally varied habitats, which in turn support a wide selection of insect prey for bats, including insect families that are significant components of the diet of a number of rare bat species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Quantifying animal density is a fundamental requirement for the successful management of canid species. Faecal transects along linear features represent a cost-effective means of quantifying relative density. However, it is unclear whether such counts can be utilized to estimate absolute density. 2. In Britain, due to proposed legislative changes in permitted culling practices, and as part of a wider monitoring programme, the current and future density of red foxes Vulpes vulpes is of applied interest. In this study, we counted fox faeces in 444 1-km squares throughout mainland Britain to construct a baseline index of fox density against which future changes could be measured. By incorporating estimates of the defecation rate and the proportion of scats associated with linear features, we estimated absolute density in seven landscapes. These estimates were compared with existing data on fox density. 3. On average, captive foxes consumed 0·85 kg food day−1. Defecation rate (8 scats fox−1 day−1) was not affected by the type of food consumed. 4. The proportion of scats associated with linear features was determined by feeding individual free-living foxes a known amount of food containing an indigestible marker. On average, 5·7% of scats were deposited along linear features. 5. Mean fox density in landscapes ranged from 0·21 to 2·23 foxes km−2. These estimates agreed closely with the limited data available on fox density in Britain. The total rural fox population was estimated to be 225 000 foxes (95% confidence interval 179 000–271 000). Including foxes in urban areas, the total national population is estimated to be approximately 258 000 individuals. 6. Synthesis and applications. The results suggest that faecal density counts have the potential to be used to estimate fox density over large spatial scales, although further work on estimating the proportion of scats associated with linear features and the use of faeces in territorial marking by canids is required. Journal of Applied Ecology (2004) 41, 768–779 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Advanced Knowledge Technologies (AKT) project is a six-year, 7.5 million Great Britain pound effort in which five universities hope to operationalize the knowledge management mantra, 'Getting the right content to the right place, at the right time and in the right form.' From the outset of the AKT in October 2000, it has been investigating how to realize the potential of the extraordinary information repository that humankind is building-the World Wide Web. A significant result from the research is CS AKTive Space, a Semantic Web application that won the 2003 Semantic Web Challenge.

1. Counts of road traffic casualties (RTCs) have been proposed as one potential method of monitoring changes in the abundance of several mammal species in Britain. However, before such schemes are implemented, it is vital that the relationship between animal density and RTCs is verified and quantified. In this paper, we analyse data collected as part of a long-term study of red foxes Vulpes vulpes in Bristol, UK to determine whether RTCs reflected changes in fox numbers. 2. Associations between fox density and RTC counts were examined using data collected from throughout Bristol during 1978–84 (spatial model) and from an intensive longitudinal study in the north-west of the city during 1990–94 (temporal model). For both sets of data, there was a significant relationship between fox density and RTCs; in the case of the temporal model, this was only evident after the data had been manipulated by calculating running means across seasons. These regression models only explained 58% and 43% of the variance observed in the data, respectively. 3. In both analyses, there was a significant difference between the distribution of casualties and the availability of different road types; more foxes were killed on major category roads (e.g. motorways, A-roads). Incorporating the length of each road category in each region in the spatial model improved the variance explained to 81%. This level of precision would be sufficient for a national monitoring programme. However, we were able to minimize or eliminate a number of factors that could potentially confound the use of RTCs for a national monitoring programme; these factors are discussed in detail. At present, we conclude that further investigation into the validity and precision of this technique is required for a range of mammal species before it could be used in a national monitoring programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss how to monitor changes in the numbers of British terrestrial mammals, make specific recommendations for the most appropriate monitoring techniques for each species, and explain how these should be integrated into a co-ordinated mammal monitoring programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. A national monitoring scheme for recording the abundance of foxes and badgers in Britain would have to utilize a technique or techniques that could detect a wide range of animal densities in structurally different habitats. Furthermore, the likely reliance on volunteers for data collection means that these techniques must be easily applied by people with different levles of field expertise. 2. Direct methods that rely on counts of the animals themselves (e.g. capture-mark-recapture, radio-tracking, spotlight counts) are generally unsuitable because of cost, manpower and licensing requirements, are not readily applied to all habitats and cannot easily be used by volunteers. However, density estimates derived from capture-mark-recapture and radio-tracking methods are likely to represent the benchmark against which other estimates of abundance are measured. 3. The number of foxes killed per unit area is currently collated by non-governmental organisations for some patterns of land use, e.g. game estates. No such data are available for badgers, as this species is legally protected in Britain. However, the applicability of hunting statistics for monitoring fox abundance is limited by differences in culling effort, the non-independence of different culling practices applied in the same region, possible future changes in the legal status of different culling methods and changes in the ratio of land where foxes are and are not culled. 4. Indirect methods that rely on counts of the signs of the animals (e.g. droppings, breeding refugia) are less expensive than direct methods, can be applied to the range of habitats found in Britain and can easily be used by volunteers. To date, indirect methods have been utilised to derive estimates of relative animal density or the density of social groups. However, the major factor currently limiting the use of indirect methods is that their relationship with absolute animal density has not been validated. The preliminary results of two projects quantifying the use of field signs as a measure of absolute fox and badger abundance suggest that indirect methods could be applicable for monitoring changes in fox and badger numbers at a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT 1. A questionnaire survey of the numbers of animals brought home by domestic cats Felis catus was conducted between 1 April and 31 August 1997. A total of 14 370 prey items were brought home by 986 cats living in 618 households. Mammals made up 69% of the items, birds 24%, amphibians 4%, reptiles 1%, fish < 1%, invertebrates 1% and unidentified items 1%. A minimum of 44 species of wild bird, 20 species of wild mammal, four species of reptile and three species of amphibian were recorded. 2. Of a sample of 696 individual cats, 634 (91%) brought home at least one item and the back-transformed mean number of items brought home was 11.3 (95% CI 10.4–12.2). The back-transformed means and number of cats retrieving at least one item from each prey group were: 8.1 (7.4–8.9) mammals for 547 (79%) cats, 4.1 (3.8–4.5) birds for 506 (73%) cats, 2.6 (2.2–3.0) herpetofauna for 145 (21%) cats and 2.2 (1.8–2.7) other items for 98 (14%) cats. 3. The number of birds and herpetofauna brought home per cat was significantly lower in households that provided food for birds. The number of bird species brought home was greater in households providing bird food. The number of birds and herpetofauna brought home per cat was negatively related to the age and condition of the cat. The number of mammals brought home per cat was significantly lower when cats were equipped with bells and when they were kept indoors at night. The number of herpetofauna brought home was significantly greater when cats were kept in at night. 4. Based on the proportion of cats bringing home at least one prey item and the back-transformed means, a British population of approximately 9 million cats was estimated to have brought home in the order of 92 (85–100) million prey items in the period of this survey, including 57 (52–63) million mammals, 27 (25–29) million birds and 5 (4–6) million reptiles and amphibians. 5. An experimental approach should be taken to investigate the factors found by this descriptive survey to influence the numbers of prey brought home by cats. In particular, investigation of potential management practices that could reduce the numbers of wild animals killed and brought home by cats will be useful for wildlife conservation, particularly in suburban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. British gamekeepers commonly trap and shoot stoats and weasels in order to increase the abundance of game. We provide details of the population biology of 822 stoats and 458 weasels collected on 25 game estates and use simple population models to assess the effects of culling. 2. Seventy-one per cent of stoats and 94% of weasels were trapped, while 26% of stoats and 5% of weasels were shot. While trapped samples exhibited typically male-biased sex ratios, the sex ratio of shot stoats was even. Eight of 305 female stoats and six of 77 female weasels were visibly pregnant, with mean litters of 9·0 and 6·2 embryos, respectively. Median ages at death were 11·6 and 8·0 months for male and female stoats, respectively, and 9·3 and 9·2 months for male and female weasels. Male and female stoats, but not male and female weasels, had significantly different rates of survival. 3. Model weasel populations continued to increase (λ = 1·35) despite culling as a result of high productivity when sufficient food was available. Model stoat populations declined slightly (λ = 0·95), probably as a result of concerted culling effort when young stoats were dependent on maternal survival. This suggests that persistence of culled stoat populations may depend on immigration. 4. To reduce stoat populations without affecting the survival of dependent juveniles, culling effort could be focused on trapping females in late winter and shooting females in early spring, where landscape and climate permit. For control of weasel populations, trapping effort should be, and in practice often is, focused on late spring, following a period of high natural mortality. 5. High rates of immigration mean that culling by gamekeepers will not ordinarily lead to any long-term decline in actual stoat and weasel populations. We suggest that measures taken to enhance immigration will improve the long-term status of stoats and weasels in... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTA national survey of the Yellow-necked Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in Britain was undertaken by The Mammal Society. The live-trapping study sampled small mammal populations from 168 deciduous woodlands in autumn 1998. Within their range, Yellow-necked Mice were widespread in deciduous woodland and were more abundant than Wood Mice in 15% of the woodlands sampled. These trapping records, as well as records solicited from local recorders, record centres and individuals, supplemented the existing distribution map, confirming the general pattern, but with minor extensions to some range borders. Yellow-necked Mice were found in woodland of all ages, but were more common in woods of ancient origin than in younger woodland. Woodland size was not important in determining the presence or abundance of Yellow-necked Mice, but they were more often absent from woods more than 2 km from neighbouring substantial woodland. The presence of Yellow-necked Mice did not affect the relative abundance of Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). However, the decline in the proportion of breeding male Wood Mice at the end of the main breeding season was more marked in those woods that also contained Yellow-necked Mice. Where their ranges overlapped, Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were less abundant where Yellow-necked Mice were also present. The distribution of the Yellow-necked Mouse was explored with respect to a number of climatic, soil and habitat variables. Maximum summer temperature was the most significant variable explaining distribution, although woodland cover variables also contributed. Soil moisture and pH, mean rainfall and winter temperature parameters did not predict Yellow-necked Mouse distribution. Low summer temperature may limit Yellow-necked Mouse distribution through its impact on tree seed production and diversity. Climatic change leading to a rise in summer temperature might encourage range expansion by Yellow-necked Mice, if their other habitat requirements are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 1.Methods used to control canids may differ in their relative effectiveness and how they ‘sample’ age and sex classes. However, there is little information on such biases. We utilized data from a population of known size and structure to quantify differences in the seasonal capture rate of foxes Vulpes vulpes of different age, sex and social status. The effects of home-range utilization and trap experience were also investigated. 2.The capture rate of juvenile (< 1 years) foxes was highest in spring and declined throughout the year. Adult (≥ 1 years) trap rates were equivalent to those of juveniles in winter. 3.Neither juveniles nor adults exhibited sex differences in trappability. 4.Adults were classified as dominant or subordinate based upon patterns of dyadic interaction. Subordinate foxes were trapped more frequently than dominants. 5.Trappability did not differ inside or outside of core areas, after controlling for trap effort. 6.Previous trap experience did not affect the capture rate of adult foxes. 7.Captures of non-resident foxes peaked in winter (52% of captures), associated with dispersing juveniles and adult males, and were lowest in summer (13%). 8.In Britain, 75–90% of foxes would need to consume poison or vaccine baits to control a rabies epizooty. During simulated rabies control operations, where cage-trapping was used to measure the proportion of foxes taking dummy baits containing a biomarker, < 30% of foxes consumed baits. However, non-resident foxes present during the period of baiting but not during trapping, or vice versa, may bias these calculations. We used the frequency of capture of non-resident foxes to re-examine the success rate of these trials. 9.Revised estimates still suggest that < 45% of foxes were reached during the simulated control operations. This is significantly below the levels necessary for rabies control. Further biomarker trials are required that do not rely only on trapping for... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the interaction behavior of adult individuals within a single group of Red Foxes in Great Britain. Factors affecting the interaction rates; Radio-tracking of foxes; Role of subordinate foxes in the transmission of diseases within the family.

ABSTRACTComparison of the results of a 1993–97 Barn Owl Tyto alba pellet survey with those of a similar survey from 1956–74 showed that Barn Owl diet had changed significantly. The primary differences were a widespread decrease in the percentage of Common Shrew Sorex araneus, combined with an increase in Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus. The percentage of Wood and Yellow-necked mice Apodemus sylvaticus and A. flavicollis and Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus in the diet also increased. Changes in Barn Owl diet since 1974 were independent of land-class group, but were dependent upon region. This was due primarily to a large increase in the percentage of Apodemus spp. in Eastern England. Whilst the percentage of Pygmy Shrew in Barn Owl diet showed significant regional variation, there was no significant variation between land-class groups. The diversity of Barn Owl diet increased between 1974 and 1997, although it was still lower in 1997 than earlier in the century. This increase was dependent upon region, but independent of land-class group. The combined results of both surveys showed significant interland-class group variation in dietary diversity. Changes in diet are discussed in relation to the intensification of agriculture and other changes in land management since the 1970s. The effects on Barn Owls of these changes in prey abundance are discussed, particularly in relation to the decline in Barn Owl numbers during the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the results of a study of trends and views on machine-readable documentation on online hosts and CD-ROMs in Great Britain. Theoretical advantages of machine-readable documentation; Development guidelines for online help screens; Documentation on CD-ROM, online hosts and the World Wide Web.

Transect surveys of foraging bats in a stratified sample of 1030 l-km squares in Britain were used to compare bat abundance in different land classes. Bat abundance remained constant from early to late summer but varied significantly between land classes. Increased ambient temperatures caused increased local abundance of bats. High abundance occurred within arable and pastural land class groups in the south, while low abundance occurred in arable, marginal upland and upland land class groups in the north. Regression analyses identified a significant negative gradient in bat abundance on a south­north axis in Britain and also on a west­east gradient within a transect across North Wales and the English Midlands, Regression analyses further outlined significant relationships between bat abundance and habitat availability within seven land class groups. Habitats included in the models were similar for each land class group. In general, bat abundance was positively related to the availability of woodland, vegetation corridors, lacustrine and riverine habitats and negatively related to the availability of arable land. The models quantifying the relationship between bat abundance and habitat availability presented in this paper provide a basis for predicting the suitability of sites for foraging bats and a tool for further research to test the hypotheses relating the impact of past and future large-scale land-use change on vespertilionid bat populations in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a model for the estimation of contact probabilities between urban foxes at different population densities in Great Britain. Implication of the estimated contact probabilities on rabies control in the country; Characteristics of urban landscapes that influence the spread of rabies.

This article reports a survey and a subsequent intervention study. The survey was conducted in two psychogeriatric day hospitals to establish the extent of day-by-day non-attendance. In 1991, 23% of allocated places were not taken up and the reasons for 98% of these episodes are reported. Little attention has been paid to non-attendance rates in the literature. Their importance is discussed. The prospective intervention study was then conducted using information from the survey year. Administrative interventions, which sought to raise the awareness of patient non-attendance within the multidisciplinary team, were put into place in the two-day hospitals. Non-attendance rates in a third day hospital, where no intervention was made, were used for comparative purposes. After second year, non-attendance in the day hospital with no interventions had fallen 3%. The other two had each reduced non-attendance rates by 18%. These reduction have clinical relevance, representing 380 patient days over the whole year in the two day hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on fox-hunting and fox numbers in Great Britain. Necessity of an analysis of statistical power to demonstrate the probability of detecting an increase in fox density; Test for regional variation in the impact of hunting pressure; Use of a sign test to remove possibility of a transformation effect; Pattern of variation in faecal density.

Discusses the effect of the ban imposed on fox hunting with hounds in Great Britain on the control of fox populations. Absence of any evidence that a ban on hunting can regulate population size; Importance of hunting on the control of population size. Quantification of the changes in fox numbers during the hunting ban imposed in 2001 due to an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease.

Summary 1. Trapping and hunting records are frequently used as an index of animal abundance. This study demonstrates that these records can be misleading if sampling effort is not controlled for. 2. Mean numbers of stoats Mustela erminea and weasels M . nivalis trapped by British gamekeepers have been decreasing since 1975 and 1961 respectively, giving rise to concern that populations of both species may be declining. However, trapping effort has not been quantified over this period. 3. A total of 203 gamekeepers in England were questioned about the trapping effort they expended and the number of stoats and weasels they trapped in 1997. The most significant factor affecting the number of stoats and weasels trapped was trapping effort. 4. Gamekeepers that relied on hand-rearing game birds for shooting regarded stoats and weasels as a less serious problem, and made substantially less trapping effort, than gamekeepers that relied on wild game birds. 5. The national decline in the numbers of stoats and weasels trapped may be the result of a decline in stoat and weasel populations. However, the decline is equally consistent with a reduction in trapping effort, corresponding to a national increase in reliance on hand-rearing game birds for shooting. 6. When the effect of trapping effort was controlled for, the number of weasels trapped by gamekeepers in 1997 was significantly lower in the south-west than in other regions of England and was unusually low in some local areas. 7. Trapping records can be used effectively to monitor populations of stoats and weasels, as long as gamekeepers record the number of traps set in each month and monthly totals of animals killed. Ideally, the sex of each animal and whether it was trapped or shot should also be recorded. Similar modifications should also be made to other wildlife monitoring schemes based on trapping and hunting records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic analysis is a useful tool to aid decisions on what to do about wildlife impacts, such as those of vertebrate predators on livestock farmers. The case-study of lamb predation by foxes in Britain is used to develop a theoretical economic model, with the aim of determining a financially optimal solution to minimise the total costs of livestock predation at the farm-level. Total costs include output losses and expenditure on preventive and control measures, in this case indoor housing and lethal fox control. The model is tested empirically with data from a questionnaire survey of sheep farmers and field data on fox population densities in Britain. Regression analyses are used to determine the relationships between lamb losses and expenditure on indoor housing, fox population density and other non-management characteristics. The effect of fox abundance on the cost of fox control is also assessed. Marginal analysis is used to determine the total cost-minimising solution from the farmer''s point-of-view, in terms of how many ewes should be housed indoors and for how long, as well as how many foxes should be killed in addition to any lethal control already carried out. Optimal solutions vary according to farm characteristics, including flock size and the regional location of farms. In all cases, to minimise the costs of predation, as many ewes as possible should be housed. However, it is not worthwhile housing them for more than a day after lambing. Efficient fox predation management does not necessarily mean that lamb losses should be reduced to zero, and additional fox control is not worthwhile on the majority of farms. The analysis provides a framework for future evaluations of wildlife impacts and cost-effective management of these problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Red foxes have a highly flexible social system. Despite numerous studies worldwide, our understanding of the pattern and stability of fox social relationships remains limited. We applied social network analysis to camera trap data collected at high-quality foraging patches to examine the social structure of a population of urban red foxes. Foxes encountered a conspecific on 13% of patch visits, and had significant preferred and avoided companionships in all seasons. They also associated in communities that matched territorial space use, confirming that territories can be analysed separately to increase power without excluding too many social partners. Foxes maintained stable, long-term relationships with other territory residents, but the average longevity of relationships varied seasonally, suggesting that social connectivity, particularly between foxes from different social groups, is influenced by their annual life cycle. The probability of re-association after a given time lag was highest in spring and summer, during cub birth and rearing, and lowest in the winter mating season, when mean relationship duration was shorter. 33% of fox relationships lasted for four consecutive seasons and were probably between territory residents. 14% lasted for around 20 days and were probably between residents and visitors from adjacent territories. The majority (53%) lasted less than one day, particularly during dispersal and mating, and were probably between foxes from non-adjacent social groups. Social structure varied between groups; in one group the death of the dominant male caused significant social disruption for two seasons. This is the first application of social network analysis to multiple red fox social groups. However, our analyses were based on interactions at high quality food patches; social connections may differ when foxes are resting, travelling and foraging elsewhere in their territory. Our results will inform management practices, particularly for disease spread and population control., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.