The purpose of this study is to assess the habitat quality of Schmeeckle Reserve in regards to the needs of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). This research will focus on the presence and relative abundance of small mammals, which serve as the main food source of the Red Fox’s diet. The vegetative habitat will also be studied; this includes the cover types present and any forage plant species used by the fox for food. The results of this study will allow for the continued management of the Red Fox in hopes to ensure a sustainable population is maintained in Schmeeckle Reserve.
With the Schmeeckle Reserve’s first priority of being a nature reserve, it has been managed to support a variety of animal and plant species. The further introduction of new …show more content…
With the success of the student park the university agreed to establish the acquired land as a nature reserve open to public access for the UWSP students, faculty, and local residents. The professor for which Schmeeckle Reserve got its name, Fred Schmeeckle, described the acquired land to “someday serve as an island of green in the City of Stevens Point" (UWSP, 2015). In 1975 the North Campus Planning and Utilization Committee was formed to determine the future of the university owned land. During the meetings it was decided that the land would serve firstly as a natural area, secondly for education, and lastly as recreational land (Trainer, 1976). Since then the reserve has continued to grow and is now over 280 acres; within these acres is a great variety of habitat types that could sustain many different species including the Red …show more content…
Most known for its bushy red tail with a white tip and the reddish brown coloration of its fur the Red Fox is a charismatic species that can be used to sway public interest. The fox’s size is similar to that of a small dog with an average body length of 55 inches. The Red Fox is known to utilize a wide variety of habitats ranging from forests, prairies, and farmlands, to mountains, the tundra, and urban areas (Fox, 2007). The Red Fox prefers the forest habitat for hunting and den creation. Possessing an omnivorous diet, the Red Fox is mostly a carnivorous hunter that prefers small mammals such as mice, rabbits, and even large insects. The fox will also consume plant material such as fruit and is also known to eat garbage in more urban settings. The overall diet of a red fox can be highly varied and will greatly depend on the habitat it is in (Diaz-Ruiz, 2011). A Red Fox does not always hunt only when it is hungry; it has been observed hunting and collecting food for future use. The Red Fox is known to cache its food underground close to its den and is very adept at moving these
With the Schmeeckle Reserve’s first priority of being a nature reserve, it has been managed to support a variety of animal and plant species. The further introduction of new …show more content…
With the success of the student park the university agreed to establish the acquired land as a nature reserve open to public access for the UWSP students, faculty, and local residents. The professor for which Schmeeckle Reserve got its name, Fred Schmeeckle, described the acquired land to “someday serve as an island of green in the City of Stevens Point" (UWSP, 2015). In 1975 the North Campus Planning and Utilization Committee was formed to determine the future of the university owned land. During the meetings it was decided that the land would serve firstly as a natural area, secondly for education, and lastly as recreational land (Trainer, 1976). Since then the reserve has continued to grow and is now over 280 acres; within these acres is a great variety of habitat types that could sustain many different species including the Red …show more content…
Most known for its bushy red tail with a white tip and the reddish brown coloration of its fur the Red Fox is a charismatic species that can be used to sway public interest. The fox’s size is similar to that of a small dog with an average body length of 55 inches. The Red Fox is known to utilize a wide variety of habitats ranging from forests, prairies, and farmlands, to mountains, the tundra, and urban areas (Fox, 2007). The Red Fox prefers the forest habitat for hunting and den creation. Possessing an omnivorous diet, the Red Fox is mostly a carnivorous hunter that prefers small mammals such as mice, rabbits, and even large insects. The fox will also consume plant material such as fruit and is also known to eat garbage in more urban settings. The overall diet of a red fox can be highly varied and will greatly depend on the habitat it is in (Diaz-Ruiz, 2011). A Red Fox does not always hunt only when it is hungry; it has been observed hunting and collecting food for future use. The Red Fox is known to cache its food underground close to its den and is very adept at moving these