Abstract
Linear dominance hierarchies among the littermates of wild red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are known to exist, although they tend to live alone. The purpose of the present study is to discuss the existence of the dominance hierarchy among a group of red foxes in Hokkaido (Vulpes vulpes schrencki), reared in a high-density cage, to clarify their social structure under an unnatural environment.
We found no linear dominance hierarchy among the study group, but did find an affiliative network. No negative correlation between association indices and the frequencies of aggressive behavior of each dyad suggested that the existence of the affiliative network did not inhibit aggressive behavior among individuals.
The present study suggests that when red foxes in Hokkaido were reared together in a high-density cage, of which members were replaced frequently, the stability of the group was low since no dominance hierarchy and no alternative mechanism to inhibit aggressive behaviors would be formed among the members.
