Summary: Akre et al. (2009)

Social behaviour of group-housed foxes at different ages can be influenced by social preference for conspecifics. It is important to understand how social preference changes in order to prevent exposure to possible social stressors. Akre et al. (2009) investigated how familiarity influences social preference and motivation to seek social contact in female silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) at 9 and 24 weeks of age. Foxes were tested at both ages, and were given a choice between an empty cage, a cage with a familiar female and a cage with an unfamiliar female (same age). They predicted that young cubs would favour familiar social contact for reassurance in a novel situation, while motivation to disperse would weaken this preferencee in older females. They found that, at 9 weeks of age, cubs favoured contact with a conspecific, regardless of familiarity. This preference disappeared at 24 weeks of age, with females increasing aggression towards the unfamiliar animal. Akre et al. (2009) suggest that the motivation for cubs seeking contact with conspecifics is possibly play-related, while motivation for juveniles to increase aggression could be associated with competition.