Diet and habitat selection of the pine marten in relation to competition with the red fox

Abstract

After a reduction in fed fox Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758 density in south-central Sweden due to an epizootic of sarcoptic mange, which reached the study area in 1982, pine martens Martes martes Linnaeus, 1758 become more abundant. By scat analysis and by snow-tracking we compared winter diet and habitat selection of martens before (1979-1980) and after (1987) the decline in foxed to test potential effects of relieved competition on martens. We also used radiotelemetry to study habitat selection after the fox decline in winter and in summer.