Age Structure and Productivity of a Gray Fox Population

A knowledge of the structure of a population is essential for the clarification of population characteristics. This paper presents some of the facts learned about aging, age structure, reproduction and mortality in a population of gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in southern Georgia and northern Florida between June, 1952, and March, 1956. The base study area referred to throughout this paper as the Thomasville, Georgia, area embraces the southern portions of Thomas and Grady counties in Georgia and the northern portions of Leon and Jefferson counties, Florida. It is bordered on the southeast by Lake Miccosukee and on the southwest by Lake Iamonia. It lies in the Tift upland region of the lower coastal plains, and is characterized by a sandy soil and a typical savannah–longleaf pine disclimax of the Gulf coastal plains. Much of the total land mass is in large plantations that have extensive stands of natural...