Analyzing Trends in the Movement of Red Foxes Across Various Underpasses Throughout New Jersey

• Isabella Kalb, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Delaware

• Kyle McCarthy, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are resident throughout the United States from Alaska to Florida. While red fox habitat varies, they have been shown to preferentially select woodlands, rural and suburban neighborhoods, wetlands, and brushy fields. In New Jersey, the red fox is considered to be highly adaptable and found throughout the entire state, where they are listed as a furbearer and game species. Red foxes are nonspecific predators, but examples of their diet include small rodents, amphibians, birds and their eggs, vegetation, and human refuse. The species is listed as Least Concern (LC) globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a stable population. Roads, along with other linear infrastructure, are often barriers to the movement of wildlife. The addition of wildlife crossing structures like underpasses can contribute to the conservation of species biodiversity; this connectivity allows many mammalian species to access resources needed to facilitate gene flow and population persistence, improving the viability of wildlife populations. To assess how red fox habitat connectivity in New Jersey may be impacted by roads and road underpasses, we installed eighty motion activated trail-cameras at various underpasses along select major roads in New Jersey, including Interstate 80 and Interstate 95. These camera stations are part of a broader study focused on wildlife underpass use, and will be active continuously for a two-year period. We successfully installed cameras in June 2024, and will begin retrieving data from each station in early August. We expect the data to display various types and numbers of wildlife species observed at a given time of day, including the red fox. Based on this information, we will evaluate which underpasses are most likely to support red fox passage, and what features of the surrounding infrastructure and habitat are related to a higher likelihood of use.