• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2022

With the implementation of the fox restoration project, the number of foxes released into nature are increasing; therefore, in the future, foxes will be dispersed to other areas and will appear in human habitats. In this study, the habitat suitability index (HSI) of foxes was developed to predict and prepare for the effects. After extracting major environmental variables through literature research and GIS analysis, 5 suitability indices (SIs) were constructed. The forest physiognomy, slope, aspect, distance from water source, and distance from road are the main variables, and the arithmetic average value by giving twice the weight to the forest physiognomy is the HSI result. As a result of comparing with the data from the Natural Environment Survey, it is found that the fox coordinates have an average HSI value of 0.64, and the probability of appearance is high when it is 0.53 or higher. Using the results of this study, it is expected to be able to predict the distribution of foxes in advance, to use them as basic data for future restoration plans, or to identify the distribution of the species and the reduction plan in future environmental impact assessments.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2018

This study examined the behavior of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) during the estrus period, breeding period, and mating including the estrus period along as well as the effect of environmental factors in an outdoor breeding facility. The average mating duration was 19.95 min (n = 13, range = 1.17-35.25 min). The breeding season was mainly early February (56.6%) for foxes aged more than one year and mid-March (60.0%) for foxes aged less than one year. The mating duration was longest when both male and female were more than one year old ($24.4{\pm}11.08min$), although copulation took place regardless of partner's age. Females that mated twice within two days after estrus started or with two males had 100% pregnancy rate. In addition, the pregnancy rate was highest (87%) when both mating partners were more than one year old. Foxes preferred daytime to nighttime for mating, and thus mating usually took place on sunny days or between 10:00 and 12:00 on partly cloudy days. A male mated with different females for a maximum of five times, and the higher the mating frequency of a male, the longer the mating duration. Interest in mating decreased after three copulations in the case of males and after two copulations in the case of females. Males required at least 4 hours and 46 minutes between the first and second copulation. For this study, we collected reference data that might be applied to breeding programs for the red fox to secure the restoration of individuals of this important species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.417-428
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• 2013

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), listed as a Class I endangered species by the Ministry of Environment of Korea, has been considered to be extinct in South Korea since the 1980s, and an intensive restoration project has been underway in Sobaeksan national park. This study was carried out to develop a suitable model for the red fox reintroduction program based on Population viability analysis (PVA) by using the VORTEX program. If 10 animals (5 females and 5 males) were continuously released into the initial zero population every year for 10 years, population growth rate and extinction probability over the next 50 years after the introduction of the population were $0.018{\pm}0.204$ and 0.354, respectively; the maximum population size was 116.34 at the 16th year after the first release, and a reduction rate of 1.22 every year from the 17th year was inferred. We found that additional releases would be needed from the 17th year after the initial release to maintain a positive growth rate and to prevent the extinction of the released red foxes, and releasing more than 12 individuals every year would be needed for the long-term, continuous existence of red foxes. By contrast, if fewer than 6 red fox individuals were released the extinction probability over the next 50 years was more than 80%. To maintain the minimum population growth rate, the release of more than 8 individuals were needed for positive population growth. The population growth rate was more stable when 10 animals in the change of their sex rate every year from the set value were released as the female-to- male sex ratio of 6:4 rather than 1:1. However, if the female-biased sex ratio was increased by more than 7:3, a negative population growth was expected. The occurrence rate of roadkill and poaching are important factors in the red fox restoration project. The extinction probability was decreased to 30% if each factor was decreased to 3% based on the standard baseline; however, if each factor was increased to more than 3%, an extinction rate of about 90% was reached over the next 50 years.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2014

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is currently identified as a restoration target species, because it is listed as level 1 in the Korean National Park Service's endangered species list. The present research was conducted to investigate the basic behavioral patterns distribution of red foxes. For this study, red foxes under semi-natural conditions were observed and recorded from May 2012 to April 2013. The results revealed that the activities of the red foxes began at $16:59{\pm}01:20t$ and ended at an average time of $05:50{\pm}03:02t$. The males began and ended their activities earlier than their female counterparts. Among the seasonal activity durations, the longest activity duration was observed in summer with activity of 14 hours and 5 minutes, while the shortest activity duration was observed in winter with activity periods of 10 hours and 11 minutes. Generally, the red foxes exhibited a nocturnal behavioral pattern; the activity start time of the foxes was influenced by the sunset time. However, the activity end time showed no relationship with the sunrise time. The frequency of daily feeding activity ranged from one to eight times per day, with the males ($2.40{\pm}1.66$) exhibiting higher frequency than their female counterparts ($1.87{\pm}1.24$). The feeding activity peaked in November (average, 3.52 times per day) and was lowest in January (average, 1.28 times per day). Both males and females engaged in daily drinking activity (average, $2.03{\pm}1.296$ times per day). Thus, the increase in the frequency of the feeding activity is related to increase in the frequency of the drinking activity. Although the present research was conducted under semi-natural condition, the findings will be useful for the daily specification management of the species, monitoring of the released foxes, and habitat management based on the behavioral characteristics of the species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.27-31
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• 2006

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.690-694
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• 2013

The aim of the present study is to obtain ecological data necessary for increasing the survival rate and effective individual management of fox cubs by analyzing the behavioral pattern during the lactation period. The subjects of the present study were baby foxes born in 2013 and taken care of at the species restoration technology institute, Korea National Park Service. Our analysis on the lactation of fox cubs and their appearance pattern outside the burrow revealed that the frequency and duration of lactation decreased with the growth of the cubs, whereas the frequency of the cubs venturing outside the den, activity time, and distance ventured increased. By the $30^{th}$ day after birth, in particular, the lactation behavior of the vixens largely decreased, and the activity of the cubs outside the den increased accordingly. Thus, for future management of the propagation of fox individuals for securing the original breed, it is necessary to increase the living food source. In addition, while capturing foxes for individual marking of cubs born in the wild, it is desirable to capture cubs older than 30 days not only for easy capture but also to minimize negative influence on the growth of the cub.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

A species restoration plan requires a process where the first is to thoroughly study the target species, second is to provide them with an onsite reproduction and adaptation period, and finally, third is to release them to their natural habitat. This study focuses on the space planning for target species' successful onsite reproduction and adaptation. For the study, a site planning near Sobaeksan National Park was implemented with Red Fox's behavior and habitat characteristics in mind for its recovery, reproduction, and natural adaptation. During site selection and planning, the basic aim was to incorporate the existing site as much as possible thus reducing the impact on the environment from the recovery plan. In addition, for a stable recovery of the Red Fox population, the site was classified into three different areas : core area, buffer zone, and transition area. Then, the facilities that help Red Fox's reproduction and adaptation such as reproduction center, foraging site, adaptation training center were planned. Under the condition that the site will be off limit to the public, a limited number of paths for monitoring was provided. For the site's vegetation, the existing species were planted as much as possible with the addition of plants that the Red Fox consume. The facilities included as Red Fox's habitat were fox burrows for hiding and ecological ponds for drinking. From this study, the recovery of the endangered fox species is expected as well as the contribution to an effort to increase of awareness toward the biological resources in Korea through Nagoya protocol. Furthermore, it has the potential to change the public's attitude toward endangered species recovery projects through publicizing and providing experience to the national park visitors.