Temporal patterns of human-fox interactions as revealed from internet searches

ABSTRACT

Traditional methods of assessing human-animal interactions include questionnaires or targeted interviews. More people typically use the internet as their primary source of information and now the availability and ease of collecting data from internet search terms mean that patterns of human-animal interactions can be assessed. In this study, internet search data of human-red fox interactions were analyzed for annual and monthly patterns. In general, patterns of internet searches were highest during April–August, reflecting key events for foxes such as denning and cub rearing. Increased searches for human-fox conflict solutions during this same period may also reflect changes in human behavior (e.g., increased garden usage). Annual increases in some search terms suggested an increasing awareness of foxes and problems with the species. This study shows that internet searches can show clear seasonal patterns that are associated with important periods of species biology.

KEYWORDS:

• Vulpes
• urban ecology
• wildlife management
• human-wildlife conflict

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to two anonymous reviewers, the Associate Editor, and the Editor Dr. Mark Needham for useful comments that have improved this article.