Size and spatial organization of home ranges of kit foxes in Arizona

We examined the size and spatial arrangement of home ranges of kit foxes ( Vulpes velox macrotis ) in western Arizona in 1982–84. Home ranges calculated with the grid-cell method averaged 11.2 ± 0.94 km2 ( X ± SE , n = 7) in size. Home ranges of female kit foxes (9.8 ±1.4 km2, n = 3) averaged 20% smaller than those of males (12.3 ±1.0 km2, n = 4). Overlap of home ranges of paired males and females (75 ± 6.1%, n = 6) was significantly greater than that of nonpaired foxes (12 ± 2.6%, n = 26) ( P < 0.001). Much of the overlap of home ranges of nonpaired animals was because of movements of males during the breeding season to dens used by females of other pairs. Overlap of home ranges of adjacent males averaged 20 ± 4.5% ( n = 10); home ranges of three female foxes did not overlap at all. The large home ranges of foxes from this study relative to kit foxes studied in Utah and California are probably a consequence of food availability.