Abstract
Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei var. vulpes) reached Scandinavia in the mid-1970’s and is mainly prevalent among red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (Borg 1987). In the laboratory, foxes succumb 2–4 months after being infested, and it is commonly thought that carriers in the wild exhibit an abnormal behaviour and quickly die (Mörner & Christensson 1984, Holt & Berg 1990). However, there is a lack of comparative data from free-ranging animals to contribute to the ecology of the species in general and ta supplement the content of the above selected references in particular (e.g. Plowright 1988). Using telemetry studies, I have compared the behaviour in winter of 2 mange infested and 2 healthy red foxes. The work took place in 1987 and 1990 in a boreal area adjacent to farmland in central Norway (63° 20′N 10° 45′E).
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Acknowledgments
I thank the veterinary surgeon, M. Fjølstad, for helping to diagnose mange and for valuable discussions on the topic, and E. Røskaft and 2 anonymous referees for valuable comments on the manuscript. The Environmental Division of the County Office in South Trøndelag County and the Schøyen Trust at the University of Trondheim–Norway provided financial support.
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