Predation is a dynamic process that is directly influenced by resource availability (e.g. prey types), and the health and welfare conditions of the predator (e.g. body condition, health status). When these conditions are altered, predators may need to adapt new modes of predation for survival. On 26 October 2019, a mid‐day attempted predation event occurred between a juvenile fox and a subadult sand goanna. This event occurred in an area that has been subject to long‐term drought conditions with significant vegetation die‐off, which may have influenced the availability of preferred small mammal prey. Additionally, this event occurred in broad daylight, which may be considered risk‐taking behaviour for the juvenile fox. Supporting this, the fox was in poor body condition (e.g. underweight with sarcoptic mange). Until this recording, no direct evidence has been reported regarding the predator/prey relationship between the two species. This observation supports that foxes may adopt prey‐switching behaviour under certain environmental and health conditions. As drought conditions continue to fluctuate in Australia, it is important that the full scope of fox predatory behaviour is well understood for the future management of Australian ecosystems.

中文翻译：

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幼年红狐狸（Vulpes vulpes）试图捕食沙go（Varanus gouldii）

捕食是一个动态过程，直接受到资源可用性（例如猎物类型）以及捕食者的健康和福利状况（例如身体状况，健康状况）的影响。当这些条件发生变化时，捕食者可能需要适应新的捕食模式才能生存。2019年10月26日，在幼狐和亚成年沙sand之间发生了一次尝试中的捕食事件。此事件发生在长期干旱条件下且植被大量死亡的地区，这可能影响了首选小型哺乳动物猎物的供应。此外，此事件在光天化日之下发生，对于小狐狸来说，这可能是冒险行为。支持这一点的是，狐狸的身体状况较差（例如体重过轻和亵）。在录制之前 没有关于这两个物种之间的天敌关系的直接证据。该观察结果支持狐狸在某些环境和健康条件下可能会采取猎物转换行为。随着澳大利亚干旱条件的持续波动，对狐狸的掠食行为的全部范围进行充分了解对于澳大利亚生态系统的未来管理非常重要。