Seasonal and sex-specific differences in feeding site attendance by red foxes Vulpes vulpes

Food provided by householders represents a key resource for urban red foxes Vulpes vulpes. Using long-term video footage, we examined how patterns of feeding site attendance varied with season, sex, and likely residence status. For foxes attending frequently (proportion individual attendance >15%) we found feeding site attendance highest for females in spring, probably because of feeding dependent young, and lowest for both sexes in autumn because of changes in seasonal food abundance or in time spent in other activities. For infrequent attenders (proportion individual attendance <15%), females attended most often in autumn and winter, coinciding with the dispersal period. Male attendance was not higher during the breeding season. Our combined results show how feeding site attendance changes throughout the year relative to potential intrinsic and extrinsic factors.