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Downey, P.J.; Hellgren, E.C.; Caso, A.; Carvajai, S.; Frangioso, K.
Hair snares for noninvasive sampling of felids in North America: do gray foxes affect success?
2007 Journal of Wildlife Management (71): 2090-2094
Hair-snare sampling has become a popular technique to assess distribution and abundance of felids. Using standard hairsnaring protocols, we sampled for margays (_Leopardus wiedii_) in Mexico and mountain lions (_Puma concolor_) in California, USA, without success. However, we noted a preponderance of gray fox (_Urocyon cinereoargenteus_) hair at sampling stations. Our review of recent literature suggests a pattern of failure to detect target felids in hair-snare surveys conducted within the range of the gray fox. We propose, among several alternative explanations, that marking by gray foxes interferes with the tendency of felids to face-rub at sampling stations.
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