Introduction
     Increasing human population density has affected land-use
patterns worldwide over the past century.  Urban habitats have
become more and more common, yet only in the past two decades has
there been significant interest in the effect of urbanization on
non-human species such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).  Several
recent studies have examined the home ranges and diets of foxes
in urban areas compared to foxes in rural areas (Harris, 1980;
Harris, 1981b; Harris and Rayner, 1986; Harris and Smith, 1987;
Doncaster et al., 1990; Coman et al., 1991; Doncaster and
MacDonald, 1991).
     The idea that ecological interactions of animals may differ
in different habitats is not new (Lessells, 1991), with the
differences depending on the animal's life history and the nature
of its habitat interactions.  An urban environment is very
different from our concept of a _natural_ habitat, and we might
expect animals living in urban areas to have different behaviors
and life histories compared to conspecifics in _natural_
habitats.  This appears to be true for mammals such as the gray
squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and eastern chipmunk (Tamias
striatus), which are strongly affected by urban variables such as
proximity to artificial feeders, houses, or other physical
structures (Flyger, 1970; Ryan and Larson, 1976).  For small
mammals (Apodemus sylvaticus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus
agrestis, and Sorex araneus) in Oxford, however, vegetation is
more important than urban variables in predicting population
density, because urban areas are a patchwork of distinct habitat
types (i.e., woodland, scrub, detached house garden), and
individuals of those four species remain in a single habitat
patch for most of their lives (Dickman and Doncaster, 1987).
     The red fox is a territorial animal with a home range
usually covering at least several hectares.  In those urban areas
it has invaded successfully, the home ranges of individuals
include patches of several different habitat types.  Therefore,
it is not surprising to see differences between the behavior and
diet of urban foxes and the behavior and diet of rural foxes.
     I studied the parental behavior and habitat interactions of
urban and rural foxes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to see if
any differences existed in those behaviors between urban and
rural foxes.  This paper will present the results of that study
and examine the ecology of urban foxes compared to the ecology of
rural foxes.  Some characteristics of urban environments that
favor the behavioral changes observed in urban foxes will be
described.