The survey we designed for this project was 18 questions in length. The questions were either in multiple choice or typed/written text format. The content of questions generally pertained to red fox food sources and foraging and feeding behaviours but questions varied greatly. We asked the general public whether or not they had or would consider feeding foxes and what they were feeding them. We also inquired into whether or not they would be willing to feed other wildlife such as coyotes or raccoons if given the opportunity.
To view the survey in its entirity, please click the PDF link here:
The survey was completely voluntary and anonymous. We distributed it to the public both in as an online survey and hard copy survey. We used a Facebook page (“PEI Urban Red Fox – Survey of Food Sources and Dietary Habits”) to promote our survey and encourage our friends and families to participate. We also contacted our professors and peers via UPEI e-mail asking them to complete the survey. We set up a table at the Robertson Library on the UPEI campus and distributed paper copies over the course of two afternoons in March. To view the results of our survey, please see the slideshow and summary below.
Our Survey & Results
Please take a look
at our results
Summary
Question 18.: Participants other observations of red fox feeding behaviour:
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Some people have seen foxes:
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Digging in the snow to get mice or other animals
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Hunting around their back yards and barns
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Hanging around birdfeeders to hunt for birds
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Some people have noticed fox behaviour has changed after being fed by humans. Foxes become more dependent on humans as a food source. They either come back to an area of home on regular basis where they have been fed previously or approach humans more often.
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Some people admit to feeding foxes during the winter season because they believe foxes are having hard time hunting with snow cover if it is too deep or frozen over.
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Some people recognized and stated reasons why humans should not feed foxes. For example, some individuals said that foxes will become dependent on humans and not be able to hunt for themselves in the future.
Most participants:
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Lived in Charlottetown
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Saw foxes 3-5 times per week
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Had not and would not consider feeding foxes
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That had fed foxes, threw food towards the fox they were trying to feed
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Fed foxes what they currently had sitting around
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Did not feed foxes on a regular basis
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Did not name foxes
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Did not have foxes come back on a regular basis after feeding them
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Did not feed other outdoor animals, except a large portion that fed stray cats
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Had not seen a fox eat the food of an outdoor animals they fed
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Would not feed other wildlife (coyotes, raccoons)
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Had not witnessed foxes hanging around birdfeeders, if they had, the foxes were not eating/pursuing anything
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Did not have garbage that was accessible to foxes and had not seen foxes eating or digging through their garbage