Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The aim of the study was to examine the major biometric parameters of the fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Bieszczady region and to investigate possible differences related to age, sex and the place of culling. The study was conducted on 61 foxes shot in hunting in 2005–2007. Total measured were 61 foxes. For characterizing the basic dimensions of the body size used: body length, height at withers, body circumference, weight of the whole body. Standard cranial measurements were taken for 6 parameters on each skull: length of the profile of the skull, the maximum width of the skull, braincase width, the width of the mouth of the rear nostrils, the height of the braincase and the height of the mandibular branch. In result was detected low sexual dimorphism, but the differences were not statistically significant. The research indicated that a large impact on the condition and state of health of foxes have weather conditions, and therefore individual assessment of their quality should not be based only on their weight. Relationship between the biometrics of foxes and the length and width of their skulls revealed that the weight of foxes can suggest value of the trophy.