We investigated home range and movement pattern by members of San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) family groups at the Naval Petroleum Reserves in California in 1994 by monitoring radio-collared foxes. Our objective was to gain insights on kit fox social ecology. Home range and core area size was similar between adult males and females, but larger for adults compared to pups. Adult males exhibited higher movement rates than adult females, and adult rates were higher than pup rates. Kit fox family members moved around their common home ranges independently; family members were located within 150 m of each other <12% of the time. Low affiliative behavior is common among canids that use small prey, possibly because cooperative hunting strategies are not required.
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