Red Fox
Red Fox Facts
| Size | 14-20 inches (35-50 cm) (shoulder height) |
| Speed | Up to 30 mph (50 km/h) (short distance) |
| Weight | 11-17 pounds (5-8 kg) |
| Lifespan | 4-5 years |
| Food | Wild animals, fruits |
| Predators | Bears, eagles |
| Habitat | Europa, Asia, America |
| Order | Carnivore |
| Family | Dogs |
| Scientific name | Vulpes vulpes |
| Characteristics | Predator with red and white fur and bushy tail |
Main Characteristics
Foxes are small predators. They live in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Australia. In Europe the red fox is the most common. Its most striking features are its red fur, white muzzle, white chest, dark brown paws and long, bushy tail.
Are Red Foxes Part of the Canine or Feline Family?
Red foxes have a lot in common with cats. For example their slit shaped eyes and their playful behavior with their prey. However, from a scientific perspective, foxes belong to the “canid” family.
Species
There are over 40 species of foxes. Best known are the red fox, the arctic fox, the gray fox, the bat-eared fox and the fennec fox. Despite being the smallest fox in the world, the fennec fox has incredibly large ears. In Germany, the red fox is best known. It is also the most common wild dog in Europe. Raccoon dogs are also foxes, although their names suggest otherwise.
Distribution and Habitat
The red fox is found in almost all countries on earth - except for New Zealand. In Germany it is the only species of fox. It prefers forests and open grasslands as a habitat. Depending on the available space and food supply, they roam areas of different sizes. Sometimes it lives in cities. There, its territory is 100-123 acres (40-50 hectares or up to 70 soccer fields). In forests it covers 500-1730 acres (200-700 hectares or up to 1,000 soccer fields) and in wide open landscapes up to 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares or up to 4,200 soccer fields). They mark their territory with urine.
Life Style
Red foxes are primarily active during dawn and dusk. For a long time, they were thought to be solitary creatures. While they often hunt for food alone, they actually live in small families consisting of a male and a female, along with their young.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Red foxes have a body length of 24-30 inches (62-75 cm) and a shoulder height of 13-20 inches (35-50 cm). So they're about the size of a small to medium-sized dog. Their tail is 30-45 cm long. The weight varies between 8 and 17 pounds (5 and 10 kg) - depending on the season and how much food is available. The males are slightly larger and heavier than the females.
Fur
Red foxes have soft, dense fur. On the upper side it is yellow-red to reddish brown. Muzzle, chest and belly are light gray to white. The legs and the back of the ears are dark brown to black.
Tail
The bushy tail helps red foxes maintain balance while jumping and chasing. They also use it to warm themselves in winter or as a signal flag to communicate with fellow peers.
Red Fox vs. Arctic Fox – What’s the Difference?
One difference can't be overlooked: the color of the fur. The red fox has reddish-brown fur. In the Arctic fox it is white - at least in winter, because in summer it is brown. Yet, there are even more differences. The arctic fox is significantly smaller, has shorter legs, a shorter muzzle, smaller ears, and much thicker fur on his paws.
Diet
Foxes eat small vertebrates, particularly mice, but also rats, rabbits, squirrels, hedgehogs and geese. Sometimes they even feed on fish, frogs or worms. However, they are not pure carnivores, but rather omnivores. They enjoy fruit such as plums and raspberries. Sometimes even carrion is also part of their diet. There are foxes that live in the city or on the outskirts. Although the city is dangerous to them (just think about cars), it works out well for them, since they don't have to travel far to find food. They plunder people's trash.
Behavior
Sounds
Red foxes produce many different sounds. They bark, cackle, trill, scream, cry, whine, and screech. With these vocalizations, they keep in touch with conspecifics, warn or greet each other.
Winter
Red foxes don't hibernate. They're active during the winter month and roam their habitat in search of food. A thick winter coat keeps them warm. It grows from October and is shed in April.
Hunting Strategies
Fox vs. Hedgehog
When a hedgehog curls up into a spiky ball, it's safe from most animals, except for the fox. It has come up with a clever trick: it rolls the hedgehog carefully with its paw into the nearest pond. The hedgehog doesn't enjoy this and quickly unrolls to waddle back to shore, dripping wet. However, the fox is waiting on the bank, ready to capture it.
Foxes Fool Crows
Crows and other scavengers also fall into the fox's trap. The birds see what appears to be a dead fox and peck it briefly with their beak to see if it is really no longer alive. Suddenly it “wakes up” from its “rigor mortis” and snaps at lightning speed. In the 1960s, an animal photographer captured this moment on a photo subsequently turning this folk belief into a proven theory.
Senses and Abilities
Jumping
Red foxes can jump over 6.5 feet (2 meters) high fences.
Swimming
Red foxes are good swimmers.
Climbing
Foxes climb over walls or fences, but rarely up trees. In trees, there is neither food nor protection for them (from bears and eagles). They prefer to stay on the ground.
Speed
While hunting or escaping, a fox can run at a speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
Sense of Hearing
Red foxes have excellent hearing. They can perceive the faint beeping of a mouse 330 feet (100 meters) away.
Sense of Smell
Red foxes have a keen sense of smell, but they don't match the abilities of specially trained scent dogs.
Magnetic Sense
Red foxes use the Earth's magnetic field to accurately determine the distance and direction of their prey. There are more animals with a magnetic sense, like sharks and turtles. In migratory birds it is called a „magnetic compass“.
Are Red Foxes Dangerous?
Red foxes are very shy and usually avoid encounters with humans. They prefer to escape – if possible. Red foxes that have been fed food lose their natural shyness and sometimes begin to seek proximity to humans. When they approach, it can look like an attack. It's a different story when they have rabies. Then they can become aggressive and attack.
Do Red Foxes Bite?
When a red fox feels threatened and can't escape, it will bite. However, it isn't strong enough and its bite isn't powerful enough to hurt us seriously. It's best to seek medical help immediately. If a pet has been bitten, the wound should be examined by a vet immediately.
Do Red Foxes Transmit Diseases?
Yes, foxes can transmit diseases and parasites. However, the chance of getting infected is rather low. Each year, only about 30 to 40 people in Germany get infected with the dreaded fox tapeworm.
What About Rabies?
Rabies is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain. It manifests itself in fear, confusion, paralysis and tantrums. The throat can become paralyzed, making it impossible to swallow, which leads to foam building up at the mouth. The last case of rabies in Germany was in 2006. So: No, foxes in Germany don't have rabies.
How to Drive Away a Red Fox
If you often have a fox visiting your garden, you might want to try out these tricks:
- Set up the ultrasound device
- Set up water sprinklers with motion detectors
- Hang shiny party balloons
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
Natural enemies include wolves, pumas, lynxes, coyotes, jackals, eagles and eagle owls. Red foxes also suffer from diseases, especially tapeworms, fleas and mites.
Hunting
How Many Foxes Die From Hunting Each Year?
In Germany, more than 400,000 to 500,000 foxes are killed by hunters every year. Animals are frequently shot, resulting in a slow and painful death.
Is Hunting Necessary?
Scientific studies show that fox hunting isn't necessary. In fact, it leads to the animals reproducing at an unusually rapid rate to make up for the losses. Actually, the available amount of food would regulate the number of animals easily. A good example for this is the Bavarian Forest National Park. The foxes there haven't been hunted for decades and the number of animals has been balanced since then.
Are Foxes Threatened?
Foxes aren't considered an endangered species at the moment. They are highly adaptable, and in regions where they are hunted, there is greater reproductive pressure (see “Hunting”).
Importance for the Ecosystem
Red foxes help balance the number of rodents. Since they also eat fruit and travel long distances, they also disperse their seeds and help new plants and trees grow. They also reduce the risk of infection with Lyme disease for us humans because they eat small animals that are infested with ticks.
Red Fox as a Pet
Red foxes don't make good pets. Even though they're part of the canine family, they typically don't bond closely with people. After all, they're wild animals. In Germany, you need permits to own one, and having them in an apartment is a no-go. Laws for animal protection require them to have a space of 320-430 square feet (30-40 m²). Capturing a wild fox to keep it as a pet is a punishable offense.
Reproduction
Red foxes mate once a year, usually in January or February. After 50 days, the female gives birth to four to six young. She raises them in an underground burrow. After two weeks they open their eyes, after four weeks they eat solid food. Sometimes they share their burrow with badgers or other animals. In the city, they also raise their young in garden sheds or garages. Most offspring die within the first year of life. 95% don't live past four years.
The Red Fox Is Related To:
- Arctic Fox
- Bat-Eared Fox
- Common Raccoon Dog
- Fennec
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Adder
- Badger
- Brimstone Butterfly
- Edible Dormouse
- Eurasian Eagle Owl
- Eurasian Jay
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Hedgehog
- Mole
- Microbat
- Mouse
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Red Squirrel
- Wolf
Sources:
- S. Stürzer, M. Schnaitl: Rotfuchs und Dachs - Raumnutzungsverhalten und Habitatwahl, Nationalparkverwaltung Bayerischer Wald, März 2009
- "„Chapter Two - Echinococcosis: Control and Prevention" (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
- "Echinococcus multilocularis management by fox culling: An inappropriate paradigm" (https://www.e-l-i-z.com)
- www.fuechse.info
Video: 13 Facts About Foxes
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