Latin name Vulpes vulpes Class Mammals Group Foxes

Human-kind has a long history with the Red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Some regard it as nothing more than chicken-stealing vermin to be exterminated, while others see it as a beautiful and fascinating addition to Britain's native fauna; one of the few mammals seeming to thrive in an increasingly developed and polluted world. Love them or hate them, foxes have an important role in our terrestrial ecosystems, some of which we've only recently begun to understand. Standing defiant in the face of almost boundless human persecution, the Red fox's tumultuous history with mankind seems set to continue for generations to come. That which follows is a detailed overview of Red fox evolution, taxonomy, biology, ecology and history. Certain aspects of the fox's natural history that warrant for detailed discussion have been split from the main overview and placed into their own Q/A.

A Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) lying in the grass. - Credit: Marc Baldwin

The Red fox at a glance

Size: 60 – 90cm (2ft – 3 ft) head and body length; can reach 1.65m (5.4 ft) including tail. In Britain, average weight of adult male is around 6.5kg (14 lbs), while adult females are approx. 5.5kg (12 lbs). The global range for adults is 3 – 16kg (6.6 – 35lbs). The largest confirmed specimen was a dog fox shot on a farm near Aberdeen, Scotland, during 2012, weighing 17.2kg (38 lb. 1 oz.) and measuring 145cm (4 ft. 9 in.). Larger animals (20kg / 41 lbs or more) have been reported, but remain unverified.

Colour: Highly variable; can range from yellow-red to black (‘silver’). Most common characteristic is white chin and underside with white tip to the tail and amber eyes. Four main colour phases (Red, White, Silver and Cross), which are genetically inherited.

Distribution: UK and most of Europe, North Africa, North America, Canada as far north as some arctic islands, and parts of Asia. Also found throughout China, northern India and Australia (introduced for hunting).

Longevity: Oldest (captive) animal almost 24 years. Typically, foxes live for only 2 years (esp. in urban environment), although more generally a range of 2 to 8 years can be expected. Upper limit in wild is generally 6 or 8 years, although some have been known to reach their mid-teens.

Sexing: Very little sexual dimorphism (i.e. sexes look very similar). Males (dogs), on average larger than females (vixens), with broader heads and longer, narrower snouts than females as they age. During the breeding season the cream-coloured scrotum of the male is descended, helping with sexing, while females with young (cubs or pups) will often have bald stomachs and enlarged teats during the summer.

Activity: Predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal (active at dusk, night and dawn); can be seen diurnally (daytime) lying in thick vegetation or patrolling territories – diurnal activity may be more common in urban environments, and during cub-rearing months in more rural spots.

Dens: Use dens (or “earths”) predominantly during cub-rearing months, although may be used outside this period particularly in bad weather. May lie up in vegetation or in sunny spots (such as on shed roofs or in trees). Natal den sought during February. Several dens may exist per territory.

Territory: Substantial variation by habitat (resource-based). Rural foxes commonly have territories between 200 and 600 ha. (500 – 1,500 acres), extending to 4,000 ha (10,000 ac.) in poor Scottish Highlands. Urban foxes tend to forage over smaller areas; less than 60 ha (150 ac. or one-quarter sq-mi.). Territories often composed of two areas; larger (home range) area containing a smaller (core area) territory. Home ranges may overlap with neighbours; core areas don’t and are violently defended against interlopers.

Diet: Extremely varied; highly opportunitistic predators. Mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish, amphibians, fruit, vegetables, grass and human rubbish.

Reproduction: Breeding season late December to February. Cubs (ave. 4 to 6) born March to late April (peak mid-March). Cubs presented with solid food from 3 wks old and emerge from den in early May (ca. 6 wks old). Cubs weaned by about 8 wks old. Independent by 3 to 5 months; family unit often breaks down from September onwards, with males more prone to dispersal than females.

Behaviour and Sociality: Normally solitary (or in pairs); can occur in family groups where resources allow (e.g. urban areas). When in groups, family members may help care for subsequent litters (guard, feed and play with cubs), but subordinates rarely breed. Have been associated with attacks on pets/livestock and damage to gardens. Can be excluded from pet/livestock enclosures with effort, but very difficult to exclude from garden completely. Calling rare, but not unheard of, outside of mating season. Communicate with scent and body language at close range and with calling over longer distances. Tendency to surplus kill and cache left-over frequently leads to false interpretation that foxes kill for ‘sport’.

Threats: Hunted for sport throughout much of range, although this seems to have little impact on overall numbers. Many killed by cars in towns and cities. Mange has decreased numbers recently. Predators of adults in most of UK non-existent (potentially golden eagles in Scotland), although cubs may fall victim to various predators (esp. golden eagles, eagle owls, other carnivorans); elsewhere predators include wolves, coyotes and lynx.

Red fox in detail

Bibliography

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Hodder and Stoughton -- 1986 -- ISBN: 978-0340382561

A New Forest Fox Family - by Thelma Clarke

Barny Books -- 2000 -- ISBN: 978-0948204463

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Franklin Watts -- 2005 -- ISBN: 978-0749679101

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Franklin Watts -- 2005 -- ISBN: 978-0749679101

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HarperCollins Publishers -- 1993 -- ISBN: 978-0002197793

Country Foxes - by Hugh Kolb

Whittet Books -- 1996 -- ISBN: 978-1873580295

Dogs: Their fossil relatives and evolutionary history - by Xiaoming Wang and Richard Tedford

Columbia University Press -- 2008 -- ISBN: 978-0231135290

Fox - by Martin Wallen

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Foxes Unearthed: A Story of Love and Loathing in Modern Britain - by Lucy Jones

Elliott & Thompson -- 2016 -- ISBN: 978-1783961498

Foxwatching: In the shadow of the fox - by Martin Hemmington

Whittet Books -- 1997 -- ISBN: 978-1873580318

Free Spirit: A brush with a fox - by Michael Chambers

Methuen London -- 1990 -- ISBN: 978-0413629807

Highland Deer Forest - by Lea MacNally

J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. -- 1970 -- ISBN: 978-0330234665

How to Spot a Fox - by J. David Henry

Chapters Publishing Ltd. -- 1993 -- ISBN: 978-1881527176

Just About Me - by Mike Towler

Vulpine Publishing -- 2006 -- ISBN: N/A

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The Mammal Society -- 2008 -- ISBN: 978-0906282656

The natural history "bible" covering all British mammals with detailed coverage of their biology, behaviour, ecology and taxonomy written by experts in the field and referenced to the primary literature.

Mind the Gap: Postglacial colonization of Ireland - by John L. Davenport, David P. Sleeman & Peter C. Woodman (eds)

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My Friends the Foxes - by Mike Towler

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New Holland Publishers -- 2003 -- ISBN: 978-1845171131

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Running with the Fox - by David MacDonald

UnwinHyman -- 1987 -- ISBN: 978-0816018864

Silent Fields: The long decline of a nation’s wildlife - by Roger Lovegrove

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Simon King’s Wildguide - by Simon King

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Isabelline Films -- 2015 -- ISBN: N/A

The Complete Fox - by Les Stocker

Chatto and Windus, Ltd. -- 1994 -- ISBN: 978-0701137762

The Darkness is Light Enough: The field journal of a night naturalist - by Chris Ferris

Sphere Books Ltd. -- 1986 -- ISBN: 978-0718126902

The Encyclopaedia of Mammals - by David MacDonald (ed.)

Brown Reference Group -- 2006 -- ISBN: 978-0199206087

The Hidden World of the Fox - by Adele Brand

William Collins -- 2020 -- ISBN: 978-0008327286

The Mammals of the Palaearctic Region: A Taxonomic Review - by Gordon Corbet

Cornell University Press -- 1978 -- ISBN: 978-0801411717

The Nature of Foxes: Hunters of the shadows - by Rebecca Gambo

Greystone Books -- 1995 -- ISBN: 978-1550541847

The Wildlife Trust’s Handbook of Garden Wildlife - by Nicholas Hammond

Bloombury -- 2014 -- ISBN: 978-1472915863

Town Fox, Country Fox - by Brian Vezey-Fitzgerald

The Country Book Club -- 1968 -- ISBN: 978-0552092111

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Unearthing the Urban Fox - by Trevor Williams and Andrew Wilson

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Urban Foxes - by Stephen Harris & Phil Baker

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Wild Animals of Britain & Europe - by Helga Hofmann

HarperCollins Publishers -- 1995 -- ISBN: 978-0007627271

Wild Fox: A complete study of the Red fox - by Roger Burrows

David and Charles Publishers -- 1968 -- ISBN: 978-0330238007

Note: Burrows provides some interesting observations in this book, but frequently arrives at spurious conclusions. As such, this book should be interpreted with caution.

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