Refining Capture and Collaring Protocols for Red Foxes

ABSTRACT Wildlife species are often captured in ecological studies to take morphometric measurements, collect biological samples and/or fit animal‐attached tags to collect data on movement and behaviour. Capture may be difficult depending on the target species, with implications for the effort required by field teams, overall capture success and study goals. Though routine practice, wildlife captures have important welfare implications which should be carefully considered prior to each study. Full details on capture protocols are rarely shared with the international community, often limited to short descriptions in the methods sections of papers. More detailed information sharing can improve knowledge on methods that lead to increased or reduced capture success, saving researcher time and resources and, most importantly, boosting animal welfare. Here, we share detailed capture protocols for improving trapping success and optimising welfare protocols for our trap‐shy target species, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). We report on the methodological refinements used to successfully trap urban red foxes in Dublin, Ireland (n = 16 captures), as well as related efforts as part of a pilot study in rural Tuscany, Italy (n = 3). We recommend setting multiple capture sites but caution against prolonged time spent in traps for foxes. Remote transmission camera traps and remote trap alert systems are highly recommended, wherever possible, to remotely monitor multiple trapping sites at once with reduced disturbance and to facilitate quick arrival at capture sites. We discuss a cheap, lightweight collar drop‐off solution to negate the need for a second capture for collar retrieval. In Dublin, we found the likelihood of capturing a fox was significantly affected by rainfall but not temperature. We conclude with an easy‐to‐consult checklist, providing advice on trap setting, pre‐baiting, collar drop‐offs and weather conditions to aid researchers embarking on the capture of foxes and other difficult‐to‐trap species, particularly in urban areas with high levels of human activity.