Role of rabies in recent demographic changes in Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations in Europe

The threat of rabies has led to a large number of studies on fox populations. However, only a few long-term fox abundance monitoring studies have been carried out. The available data in Europe (e.g. hunting statistics, night counts, track and pellet counts) suggest that foxes have increased in abundance in several European regions. We investigate several possible reasons for this increase in abundance. The eradication of rabies and human-caused changes in the demographic parameters (for survival and/or productivity) of foxes seem to have had the most significant effect. Local fox population densities may be very high and this may represent a significant hazard for the transmission of rabies or other zoonoses to humans.