Where does the fox live ?

Twenty one species of foxes, in four genera, cover most of the world. They can be found from the Arctic tundra (Arctic fox) to city center (Red fox). The red fox is the best known fox, he lives in woods as well as in towns, where he searches garbage bins for food.

Foxes are interesting because they seem to have characteristics of both dogs and cats. Some of their cat-like characteristics include: vertical slit eyes, partially retractable claws, light body weight, and a stalking and pouncing style of hunting. Foxes are even good tree climbers, especially the gray fox.

Foxes live on large territories, which they mark by scent -- urine or musk from several glands on their body. In a town, foxes can also occupy a smaller territory or even accept other foxes in their territory. Foxes may share their territories with wolves and eagles, they sometimes even follow wolves to catch leftovers from their prey. Coyotes, however are avoided by foxes.

Wolves, coyotes, lynx and eagles are his natural enemies and may kill him when they find him -- to save their own territories. The eagle even kills foxes for food.

What colour is the fox ?

Red foxes generally have a white belly and almost always have a white tipped tail, black ears and paws, called socks, are common. The red fox does have a wide range of possible colors. Some have a light grey color -- the light silver fox. One color phase that is prized is the black silver fox -- the fox is solid black with specks of white hair on the hind side and the typical white tip. 
Most Arctic foxes have a solid white fur color in winter -- however, some have a solid black or dark blue fur color in winter. These blue color phase foxes, called Blue Foxes, generally live along the coast. The Arctic fox's fur changes to dark brown in summer.

Does he really steal the goose? 

Actually they have no chance to catch an adult rabbit unless it is sick or old, and they leave geese alone, too. What makes foxes able to survive in the wild as well as in the towns is the fact that they are omnivores. They prefer easy to catch prey, mice or mice-like voles, earthworms, birds, squirrels, and carrion. They also eat vegetables, and they even loves berries.

Foxes catch food by locating it with their sensitive ears and by pouncing it. Foxes hide food they don't want to eat immediately by digging small holes, called caches, and dropping the food into them. Sometimes foxes play with the prey, throwing it up in the air and catching it again. This is another behavior the fox shares with the cat.

During December and January, vixens leave scent marks that tell the male fox she is out looking. Once a dog fox has discovered the message, he will follow the marks until he finds her. Unfortunately, during this courtship period, and the two month dispersal period just proceeding it, is when most foxes are killed -- mostly by cars. It is also during this early winter period that hunters are after them because their fur is at its fullest. After a short time of meeting, they will start to play, sniff at each other and frolic in the grass. The courtship is very short, since the vixen is only fertile for about a one week period each year. Gestation is about 60 days for the red fox. Litter sizes are normally one to six. The dog fox helps the vixen raise the cubs during the first two months. For the first month or so, the vixen depends entirely on the dog fox to bring her food. After about three months, the dog fox will go back to its solitary lifestyle, but he will try to find the same vixen again when the mating season comes back.

In the first two weeks, the cubs are unable to see or hear anything. They are fed by the mother's milk. The fur is short and black.

After three weeks, the fur will slowly turn into dark brown on the head, and into grey on the body. The teeth break through the gum, and the cub starts to chew on anything. Soon he starts to show the first signs of social behavior, the first fights are fought between the siblings.

After four weeks, the cubs will start exploring the world outside the dens tubes for the first time. Now you can already clearly see which cub is the strongest and most courageous one. The cubs are slowly getting used to meat. It is this time when foxes sometimes attack pens or henhouses on farms to steal chicken, they need a lot of food for the cubs.

After seven weeks, the foxes' games will become more and more aggressive and show signs of ritual fights. They will explore more and more the fields that surround their den; later they start to follow their mother when she goes hunting.

In the summer, the young foxes get more and more independent from the mother fox. In fall, the young foxes come into puberty, they become sexually mature. Now the vixen will start to force the young out of the den.

Foxes can live up to 14 years. However, in the harsh wildlife, very few foxes reach their fifth year. In some areas where life is very hard, only one out of seven pups survives the first year.

In Europe, hunting over many years has eliminated the lynx, wolf, and eagle; and it might have eliminated the fox as well if he had not been so adaptive. The red foxes' only enemy remaining is man, who hunts him for his beautiful fur by shooting him or catching him with leghold traps.

Foxes used to be hunted because of their beautiful fur and because they are a carrier for Rabies, a disease that will kill any animal, and it can kill a human if it is not treated immediately. In Europe, especially in Germany, rabies cases have decreased to almost zero. Foxes are being vaccinated against this disease with little cubes made of fish, meat -- and vaccine. 

It is interesting that foxes in Japan are not as shy as European foxes. In Japan and other Asian countries, the fox is considered a sacred animal. He has never been hunted as in Europe or America, so, evolution has left him as tame as he might have been in the rest of the world long time ago.

The fox is a very beautiful animal, it is worth taking some photos or simply watching it for a while. I have had the chance to watch wild foxes, and I know how exciting it is to look into the eyes of such a beautiful animal, especially when it's a wild animal.

Fox watching

The fox is a very beautiful animal, it is worth taking some photos or simply watching it for a while. I have had the chance to watch wild foxes, and I know how exciting it is to look into the eyes of such a beautiful animal, especially when it's a wild animal.
A good time to watch them is winter, then the foxes look best in their thick winter fur. From March to May you might be able to spot some young foxes playing in front of the den, maybe they allow you watching them for a while.

They are best found in areas which provide fields, lawns, hedges and woods. Dens can be found under trees or at hills. If you can find leftovers of animals like bones, feathers etc. or take notice of a strong smell, then there is life in it. If you've found a den, don't let the fox take notice of your presence. If the fox has cubs in the den, you might make him move away to another den.

Be prepared to take photos at both, day or nighttime. Don't worry about the flash light, the fox usually does ignore it. But take care of the camera, the "Click" sounds must not be too loud, or you'll scare the fox away.

Ask a local hunter if you may use the raised hides in his territory for fox watching, a place ideal for hunting animals is also ideal for just watching them.

You might want to try to lure that fox towards you by putting food close to you. Foxes like dog or cat food, and they even love yoghurt. Take good care not to make that food smell like human, put on vinyl gloves when you open the can, and put that food in front of the den or directly in the fox's path, so he'll find it.

Foxes are very shy, and if they notice you, they will run away. You need to take care of yourself. Take a shower, but don't use soap. You must not smell like sweat or soap. Consider the direction of the wind. Also, wear dark clothes, don't wear clothes with pale colors. Don't move too much, and don't make any noise.

If your pet is the friendly, well-behaved, tolerant type, you might discover a rust-colored visitor frequenting your back yard. Red foxes are particularly adept at making friends with cats and dogs, charming them to the point where the fox is allowed to eat from the same food dish.

The behavior has been repeatedly documented in England, the USA and in other parts of the world where foxes have adapted to city life. Usually, the only proof that a fox has "adopted" your pet is an actual sighting. A fox doesn't gorge itself but tends to eat lightly at each of its "adopted" homes so that it isn't weighed down. The amount a fox eats won't starve your dog.

Also, the fox has adopted your pet, not you. Your presence in the back yard might make it skip a visit while making its rounds. If you want to watch the fox and your pet, it's best to stay indoors. Or you could try to sit quietly in one place and the fox and your pet might put on a show for you with nothing between you and them.

Remember to regularly check the rabies status of wild animals in your area. If there are reports of rabies among foxes, feed your pet inside. Remember that the fox is mainly there for the food, and if it's gone, the friendship may be terminated by the fox.

Macdonald, David, ed; The Encyclopedia of Mammals ; Andromeda Oxford Ltd, 1995, ISBN 1-871869-62-5.

Thanks to Joe Ekaitis for the report 'Adopted by a fox' and the image.