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Red fox

January 19, 2024

For other uses, see Red Fox (disambiguation).

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus parts of North Africa. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1] Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations. Due to its presence in Australia, it is included on the list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".[3]

Red fox
Temporal range: 0.7 Ma
↓
 Middle Pleistocene – present
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Vulpes
Species:
V. vulpes
Binomial name
Vulpes vulpes
Subspecies
45 subspecies
Distribution of the red fox
  native
  introduced
  presence uncertain
Synonyms
  • Canis vulpes Linnaeus, 1758
  • Canis alopex Linnaeus, 1758

The red fox originated from smaller-sized ancestors from Eurasia during the Middle Villafranchian period,[4] and colonised North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation.[5] Among the true foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of carnivory.[6] Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, the species often produces individuals with other colourings, including leucistic and melanistic individuals.[6] Forty-five subspecies are currently recognised,[7] which are divided into two categories: the large northern foxes and the small, basal southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa.[6]

Red foxes are usually found in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a mated pair and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits.[8] The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target rabbits, squirrels, game birds, reptiles, invertebrates[6] and young ungulates.[6] Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten sometimes.[9] Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as wolves, coyotes, golden jackals, large predatory birds such as golden eagles and Eurasian eagle owls,[10] and medium- and large-sized felids.[11]

The species has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for many centuries, as well as being represented in human folklore and mythology. Because of its widespread distribution and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade.[12]: 229–230  Too small to pose a threat to humans, it has extensively benefited from the presence of human habitation, and has successfully colonised many suburban and urban areas. Domestication of the red fox is also underway in Russia, and has resulted in the domesticated silver fox.

Terminology edit

 
Juvenile red foxes are known as kits

Males are called tods or dogs, females are called vixens, and young are known as cubs or kits.[13] Although the Arctic fox has a small native population in northern Scandinavia, and while the corsac fox's range extends into European Russia, the red fox is the only fox native to Western Europe, and so is simply called "the fox" in colloquial British English.

Etymology edit

The word "fox" comes from Old English, which derived from Proto-Germanic *fuhsaz. Compare with West Frisian foks, Dutch vos, and German Fuchs. This, in turn, derives from Proto-Indo-European *puḱ- 'thick-haired; tail'. Compare to the Hindi pū̃ch 'tail', Tocharian B päkā 'tail; chowrie', and Lithuanian paustìs 'fur'. The bushy tail also forms the basis for the fox's Welsh name, llwynog, literally 'bushy', from llwyn 'bush'. Likewise, Portuguese: raposa from rabo 'tail', Lithuanian uodẽgis from uodegà 'tail', and Ojibwe waagosh from waa, which refers to the up and down "bounce" or flickering of an animal or its tail.[citation needed]

The scientific term vulpes derives from the Latin word for fox, and gives the adjectives vulpine and vulpecular.[14]

Evolution edit

 
Comparative illustration of skulls of the red fox (left) and Rüppell's fox (right): note the more developed facial area of the former.

The red fox is considered to be a more specialised form of Vulpes than the Afghan, corsac and Bengal fox species, in regards to their overall size and adaptation to carnivory; the skull displays far fewer neotenous traits than in other foxes, and its facial area is more developed.[6] It is, however, not as adapted for a purely carnivorous diet as the Tibetan fox.[6]

The sister lineage to the red fox is the Rüppell's fox, but the two species are surprisingly closely related through mitochondrial DNA markers, with Rüppell's fox nested inside the lineages of red foxes. Such a nesting of one species within another is called paraphyly. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain this,[15] including (1) recent divergence of Rüppell's fox from a red fox lineage, (2) incomplete lineage sorting, or introgression of mtDNA between the two species. Based on fossil record evidence, the last scenario seems most likely, which is further supported by the clear ecological and morphological differences between the two species.[citation needed]

Origins edit

The species is Eurasian in origin, and may have evolved from either Vulpes alopecoides or the related Chinese V. chikushanensis, both of which lived during the Middle Villafranchian of the Pleistocene Epoch.[4] The earliest fossil specimens of V. vulpes were uncovered in Baranya County, Hungary, dating from 3.4 to 1.8 million years ago.[17] The ancestral red fox was likely more diminutive compared to today's extant foxes, as the earliest red fox fossils have shown a smaller build than living specimens.[4]: 115–116  The earliest fossil remains of the modern species date back to the mid-Pleistocene,[18] found in association with middens and refuse left by early human settlements. This has led to the theory that the red fox was hunted by primitive humans (as both a source of food and pelts); the possibility also exists of red foxes scavenging from middens or butchered animal carcasses.[19]

Colonisation of North America edit

Red foxes colonised the North American continent in two waves: before and during the Illinoian glaciation, and during the Wisconsinan glaciation.[20] Gene mapping demonstrates that red foxes in North America have been isolated from their Old World counterparts for over 400,000 years, thus raising the possibility that speciation has occurred, and that the previous binomial name of Vulpes fulva may be valid.[21] In the far north, red fox fossils have been found in Sangamonian Stage deposits near the Fairbanks District, Alaska, and Medicine Hat, Alberta. Fossils dating from the Wisconsinan are present in 25 sites across Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio,[22] Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming. Although they ranged far south during the Wisconsinan, the onset of warm conditions shrank their range toward the north, and they have only recently reclaimed their former North American ranges because of human-induced environmental changes.[5] Genetic testing indicates that two distinct red fox refugia exist in North America, which have been separated since the Wisconsinan. The northern (or boreal) refugium occurs in Alaska and western Canada, and consists of the larger subspecies V. v. alascensis, V. v. abietorum, V. v. regalis, and V. v. rubricosa. The southern (or montane) refugium occurs in the subalpine parklands and alpine meadows of the west, from the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada ranges, consisting of the smaller subspecies V. v. cascadensis, V. v. macroura, V. v. necator, and V. v. patwin. The latter clade has been separated from all other red fox populations since at least the last glacial maximum, and may possess unique ecological or physiological adaptations.[20]

Although European foxes (V. v. crucigera) were introduced to portions of the United States in the 1900s, recent genetic investigation indicates an absence of European fox mitochondrial haplotypes in any North American populations.[23] Additionally, introduced eastern North American red foxes have colonised most of inland California, from Southern California to the San Joaquin Valley, Monterey and north-coastal San Francisco Bay Area (including urban San Francisco and adjacent cities). In spite of the red fox's adaptability to city life, they are still found in somewhat greater numbers in the northern portions of California (north of the Bay Area) than in the south, as the wilderness is more alpine and isolated. The eastern red foxes appear to have mixed with the Sacramento Valley red fox (V. v. patwin) only in a narrow hybrid zone.[24] In addition, no evidence is seen of interbreeding of eastern American red foxes in California with the montane Sierra Nevada red fox (V. v. necator) or other populations in the Intermountain West (between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west).[25]

Subspecies edit

 
Skull of a northern fox
 
Skull of a southern grey desert fox

The 3rd edition of Mammal Species of the World[7] listed 45 subspecies as valid. In 2010, a distinct 46th subspecies, the Sacramento Valley red fox (V. v. patwin), which inhabits the grasslands of the Sacramento Valley, was identified through mitochondrial haplotype studies.[26] Castello (2018) recognized 30 subspecies of the Old World red fox and nine subspecies of the North American red fox as valid.[27]

Substantial gene pool mixing between different subspecies is known; British red foxes have crossbred extensively with red foxes imported from Germany, France, Belgium, Sardinia and possibly Siberia and Scandinavia.[28]: 140  However, genetic studies suggest very little differences between red foxes sampled across Europe.[29][30] Lack of genetic diversity is consistent with the red fox being a highly agile species, with one red fox covering 320 km (200 mi) in under a year's time.[31]

Red fox subspecies in Eurasia and North Africa are divided into two categories:[6]

  • Northern foxes are large and brightly coloured.
  • Southern grey desert foxes include the Asian subspecies V. v. griffithi, V. v. pusilla, and V. v. flavescens. These foxes display transitional features between the northern foxes and other, smaller fox species; their skulls possess more primitive, neotenous traits than the northern foxes[6] and they are much smaller; the maximum sizes attained by southern grey desert foxes are invariably less than the average sizes of northern foxes. Their limbs are also longer and their ears larger.[6]

Red foxes living in Middle Asia show physical traits intermediate to the northern foxes and southern grey desert foxes.[6]

Description edit

Build edit

 
Red fox (left) and corsac fox (right) yawning

The red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs. The tail, which is longer than half the body length[6] (70 percent of head and body length),[42] is fluffy and reaches the ground when in a standing position. Their pupils are oval and vertically oriented.[6] Nictitating membranes are present, but move only when the eyes are closed. The forepaws have five digits, while the hind feet have only four and lack dewclaws.[8] They are very agile, being capable of jumping over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high fences, and swim well.[43] Vixens normally have four pairs of teats,[6] though vixens with seven, nine, or ten teats are not uncommon.[8] The testes of males are smaller than those of Arctic foxes.[6]

Their skulls are fairly narrow and elongated, with small braincases. Their canine teeth are relatively long. Sexual dimorphism of the skull is more pronounced than in corsac foxes, with female red foxes tending to have smaller skulls than males, with wider nasal regions and hard palates, as well as having larger canines.[6] Their skulls are distinguished from those of dogs by their narrower muzzles, less crowded premolars, more slender canine teeth, and concave rather than convex profiles.[8]

Dimensions edit

Red foxes are the largest species of the genus Vulpes.[44] However, relative to dimensions, red foxes are much lighter than similarly sized dogs of the genus Canis. Their limb bones, for example, weigh 30 percent less per unit area of bone than expected for similarly sized dogs.[45] They display significant individual, sexual, age and geographical variation in size. On average, adults measure 35–50 cm (14–20 in) high at the shoulder and 45–90 cm (18–35 in) in body length with tails measuring 30–55.5 cm (11.8–21.9 in). The ears measure 7.7–12.5 cm (3.0–4.9 in) and the hind feet 12–18.5 cm (4.7–7.3 in). Weights range from 2.2–14 kg (4.9–30.9 lb), with vixens typically weighing 15–20% less than males.[46][47] Adult red foxes have skulls measuring 129–167 mm (5.1–6.6 in), while those of vixens measure 128–159 mm (5.0–6.3 in).[6] The forefoot print measures 60 mm (2.4 in) in length and 45 mm (1.8 in) in width, while the hind foot print measures 55 mm (2.2 in) long and 38 mm (1.5 in) wide. They trot at a speed of 6–13 km/h (3.7–8.1 mph), and have a maximum running speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). They have a stride of 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) when walking at a normal pace.[45]: 36  North American red foxes are generally lightly built, with comparatively long bodies for their mass and have a high degree of sexual dimorphism. British red foxes are heavily built, but short, while continental European red foxes are closer to the general average among red fox populations.[48] The largest red fox on record in Great Britain was a 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long male, that weighed 17.2 kg (38 lb), killed in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in early 2012.[49]

Fur edit

 
A red fox in its winter coat in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado U.S.A.

The winter fur is dense, soft, silky and relatively long. For the northern foxes, the fur is very long, dense and fluffy, but it is shorter, sparser and coarser in southern forms.[6] Among northern foxes, the North American varieties generally have the silkiest guard hairs,[12]: 231  while most Eurasian red foxes have coarser fur.[12]: 235  The fur in "thermal windows" areas such as the head and the lower legs is kept dense and short all year round, while fur in other areas changes with the seasons. The foxes actively control the peripheral vasodilation and peripheral vasoconstriction in these areas to regulate heat loss.[50] There are three main colour morphs; red, silver/black and cross (see Mutations).[42] In the typical red morph, their coats are generally bright reddish-rusty with yellowish tints. A stripe of weak, diffuse patterns of many brown-reddish-chestnut hairs occurs along the spine. Two additional stripes pass down the shoulder blades, which, together with the spinal stripe, form a cross. The lower back is often a mottled silvery colour. The flanks are lighter coloured than the back, while the chin, lower lips, throat and front of the chest are white. The remaining lower surface of the body is dark, brown or reddish.[6] During lactation, the belly fur of vixens may turn brick red.[8] The upper parts of the limbs are rusty reddish, while the paws are black. The frontal part of the face and upper neck is bright brownish-rusty red, while the upper lips are white. The backs of the ears are black or brownish-reddish, while the inner surface is whitish. The top of the tail is brownish-reddish, but lighter in colour than the back and flanks. The underside of the tail is pale grey with a straw-coloured tint. A black spot, the location of the supracaudal gland, is usually present at the base of the tail. The tip of the tail is white.[6]

Colour morphs edit

 
Various red fox colour morphs

Atypical colouration in the red fox usually represents stages toward full melanism,[6] and mostly occurs in cold regions.[9]

Colour morph Image Description
Red   The typical colouration (see fur above)
Smokey The rump and spine is brown or grey with light yellowish bands on the guard hairs. The cross on the shoulders is brown, rusty brown or reddish-brown. The limbs are brown.[6]
Cross   The fur has a darker colouration than the colour morph listed directly above. The rump and lower back are dark brown or dark grey, with varying degrees of silver on the guard hairs. The cross on the shoulders is black or brown, sometimes with light silvery fur. The head and feet are brown.[6]
Blackish-brown The melanistic colour morph of the Eurasian red foxes. Has blackish-brown or black skin with a light brownish tint. The skin area usually has a variable admixture of silver. Reddish hairs are either completely absent or in small quantities.[6]
Silver   The melanistic colour morph of the North American red foxes, but introduced to the Old World by the fur trade. Characterised by pure black colour with skin that usually has a variable admixture of silver (covering 25–100% of the skin area)[6]
Platinum   Distinguished from the silver colour morph by its pale, almost silvery-white fur with a bluish cast[12]: 251 
Amber  
Samson   Distinguished by its woolly pelt, which lacks guard hairs[12]: 230 

Senses edit

Red foxes have binocular vision,[8] but their sight reacts mainly to movement. Their auditory perception is acute, being able to hear black grouse changing roosts at 600 paces, the flight of crows at 0.25–0.5 km (0.16–0.31 mi) and the squeaking of mice at about 100 m (330 ft).[6] They are capable of locating sounds to within one degree at 700–3,000 Hz, though less accurately at higher frequencies.[43] Their sense of smell is good, but weaker than that of specialised dogs.[6]

Scent glands edit

Red foxes have a pair of anal sacs lined by sebaceous glands, both of which open through a single duct.[51] The size and volume of the anal sacs increases with age, ranging in size from 5–40mm in length, 1–3mm in diameter, and with a capacity of 1–5mL.[52] The anal sacs act as fermentation chambers in which aerobic and anaerobic bacteria convert sebum into odorous compounds, including aliphatic acids. The oval-shaped caudal gland is 25 mm (0.98 in) long and 13 mm (0.51 in) wide, and reportedly smells of violets.[6] The presence of foot glands is equivocal. The interdigital cavities are deep, with a reddish tinge and smell strongly. Sebaceous glands are present on the angle of the jaw and mandible.[8]

Distribution and habitat edit

 
Multi-coloured North American red fox

The red fox is a wide-ranging species. Its range covers nearly 70,000,000 km2 (27,000,000 sq mi) including as far north as the Arctic Circle. It occurs all across Europe, in Africa north of the Sahara Desert, throughout Asia apart from extreme Southeast Asia, and across North America apart from most of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is absent in Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic islands, the most northern parts of central Siberia, and in extreme deserts.[1] It is not present in New Zealand and is classed as a "prohibited new organism" under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, which does not allow import.[53]

Australia edit

Main article: Feral foxes in Australia

In Australia, estimates in 2012 indicated that there were more than 7.2 million red foxes,[54] with a range extending throughout most of the continental mainland.[45]: 14  They became established in Australia through successive introductions in the 1830s and 1840s, by settlers in the British colonies of Van Diemen's Land (as early as 1833) and the Port Phillip District of New South Wales (as early as 1845), who wanted to foster the traditional English sport of fox hunting. A permanent red fox population did not establish itself on the island of Tasmania, and it is widely held that foxes were out-competed by the Tasmanian devil.[55] On the mainland, however, the species was successful as an apex predator. The fox is generally less common in areas where the dingo is more prevalent, but it has, primarily through its burrowing behaviour, achieved niche differentiation with both the feral dog and the feral cat. Consequently, the fox has become one of the continent's most destructive invasive species.[citation needed]

The red fox has been implicated in the extinction or decline of several native Australian species, particularly those of the family Potoroidae, including the desert rat-kangaroo.[56] The spread of red foxes across the southern part of the continent has coincided with the spread of rabbits in Australia, and corresponds with declines in the distribution of several medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals, including brush-tailed bettongs, burrowing bettongs, rufous bettongs, bilbies, numbats, bridled nail-tail wallabies and quokkas.[57] Most of those species are now limited to areas (such as islands) where red foxes are absent or rare. Local fox eradication programs exist, although elimination has proven difficult due to the fox's denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting, so the focus is on management, including the introduction of state bounties.[58] According to the Tasmanian government, red foxes were accidentally introduced to the previously fox-free island of Tasmania in 1999 or 2000, posing a significant threat to native wildlife, including the eastern bettong, and an eradication program was initiated, conducted by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water.[59]

Sardinia, Italy edit

The origin of the ichnusae subspecies in Sardinia, Italy is uncertain, as it is absent from Pleistocene deposits in their current homeland. It is possible it originated during the Neolithic following its introduction to the island by humans. It is likely then that Sardinian fox populations stem from repeated introductions of animals from different localities in the Mediterranean. This latter theory may explain the subspecies' phenotypic diversity.[19]

Behaviour edit

Social and territorial behaviour edit

 
Red fox pressed against the trunk of a pine tree in Ilmatsalu, Estonia
 
Red foxes grooming each other
 
A pair of European red foxes (V. v. crucigera) at the British Wildlife Centre, Surrey, England
 
A red fox marking its territory

Red foxes either establish stable home ranges within particular areas or are itinerant with no fixed abode.[45]: 117  They use their urine to mark their territories.[60][61] A male fox raises one hind leg and his urine is sprayed forward in front of him, whereas a female fox squats down so that the urine is sprayed in the ground between the hind legs.[62] Urine is also used to mark empty cache sites, used to store found food, as reminders not to waste time investigating them.[45]: 125 [63][64] Males generally have higher urine marking rates during late summer and autumn, but the rest of the year the rates between male and female are similar.[65] The use of up to 12 different urination postures allows them to precisely control the position of the scent mark.[66] Red foxes live in family groups sharing a joint territory. In favourable habitats and/or areas with low hunting pressure, subordinate foxes may be present in a range. Subordinate foxes may number one or two, sometimes up to eight in one territory. These subordinates could be formerly dominant animals, but are mostly young from the previous year, who act as helpers in rearing the breeding vixen's kits. Alternatively, their presence has been explained as being in response to temporary surpluses of food unrelated to assisting reproductive success. Non-breeding vixens will guard, play, groom, provision and retrieve kits,[8] an example of kin selection. Red foxes may leave their families once they reach adulthood if the chances of winning a territory of their own are high. If not, they will stay with their parents, at the cost of postponing their own reproduction.[45]: 140–141 

Reproduction and development edit

Further information: Mating behavior of melanistic red foxes
 
 
 
Red fox kits
 
Red foxes mating

Red foxes reproduce once a year in spring. Two months prior to oestrus (typically December), the reproductive organs of vixens change shape and size. By the time they enter their oestrus period, their uterine horns double in size, and their ovaries grow 1.5–2 times larger. Sperm formation in males begins in August–September, with the testicles attaining their greatest weight in December–February.[6] The vixen's oestrus period lasts three weeks,[8] during which the dog-foxes mate with the vixens for several days, often in burrows. The male's bulbus glandis enlarges during copulation,[9] forming a copulatory tie which may last for more than an hour.[8] The gestation period lasts 49–58 days.[6] Though foxes are largely monogamous,[67] DNA evidence from one population indicated large levels of polygyny, incest and mixed paternity litters.[8] Subordinate vixens may become pregnant, but usually fail to whelp, or have their kits killed postpartum by either the dominant female or other subordinates.[8]

Red fox kits coming out of their den

The average litter size consists of four to six kits, though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred.[6] Large litters are typical in areas where fox mortality is high.[45]: 93  Kits are born blind, deaf and toothless, with dark brown fluffy fur. At birth, they weigh 56–110 g (2.0–3.9 oz) and measure 14.5 cm (5.7 in) in body length and 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in tail length. At birth, they are short-legged, large-headed and have broad chests.[6] Mothers remain with the kits for 2–3 weeks, as they are unable to thermoregulate. During this period, the fathers or barren vixens feed the mothers.[8] Vixens are very protective of their kits, and have been known to even fight off terriers in their defence.[28]: 21–22  If the mother dies before the kits are independent, the father takes over as their provider.[28]: 13  The kits' eyes open after 13–15 days, during which time their ear canals open and their upper teeth erupt, with the lower teeth emerging 3–4 days later.[6] Their eyes are initially blue, but change to amber at 4–5 weeks. Coat colour begins to change at three weeks of age, when the black eye streak appears. By one month, red and white patches are apparent on their faces. During this time, their ears erect and their muzzles elongate.[8] Kits begin to leave their dens and experiment with solid food brought by their parents at the age of 3–4 weeks. The lactation period lasts 6–7 weeks.[6] Their woolly coats begin to be coated by shiny guard hairs after 8 weeks.[8] By the age of 3–4 months, the kits are long-legged, narrow-chested and sinewy. They reach adult proportions at the age of 6–7 months.[6] Some vixens may reach sexual maturity at the age of 9–10 months, thus bearing their first litters at one year of age.[6] In captivity, their longevity can be as long as 15 years, though in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years of age.[68]

Denning behaviour edit

 
Side and above view of a red fox den

Outside the breeding season, most red foxes favour living in the open, in densely vegetated areas, though they may enter burrows to escape bad weather.[8] Their burrows are often dug on hill or mountain slopes, ravines, bluffs, steep banks of water bodies, ditches, depressions, gutters, in rock clefts and neglected human environments. Red foxes prefer to dig their burrows on well drained soils. Dens built among tree roots can last for decades, while those dug on the steppes last only several years.[6] They may permanently abandon their dens during mange outbreaks, possibly as a defence mechanism against the spread of disease.[8] In the Eurasian desert regions, foxes may use the burrows of wolves, porcupines and other large mammals, as well as those dug by gerbil colonies. Compared to burrows constructed by Arctic foxes, badgers, marmots and corsac foxes, red fox dens are not overly complex. Red fox burrows are divided into a den and temporary burrows, which consist only of a small passage or cave for concealment. The main entrance of the burrow leads downwards (40–45°) and broadens into a den, from which numerous side tunnels branch. Burrow depth ranges from 0.5–2.5 m (1 ft 8 in – 8 ft 2 in), rarely extending to ground water. The main passage can reach 17 m (56 ft) in length, standing an average of 5–7 m (16–23 ft). In spring, red foxes clear their dens of excess soil through rapid movements, first with the forepaws then with kicking motions with their hind legs, throwing the discarded soil over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) from the burrow. When kits are born, the discarded debris is trampled, thus forming a spot where the kits can play and receive food.[6] They may share their dens with woodchucks[9] or badgers.[6] Unlike badgers, which fastidiously clean their earths and defecate in latrines, red foxes habitually leave pieces of prey around their dens.[28]: 15–17  The average sleep time of a captive red fox is 9.8 hours per day.[69]

Communication edit

Body language edit

 
A European fox (V. v. crucigera) in an inquisitive posture

Red fox body language consists of movements of the ears, tail and postures, with their body markings emphasising certain gestures. Postures can be divided into aggressive/dominant and fearful/submissive categories. Some postures may blend the two together.[45]: 42–43  Inquisitive foxes will rotate and flick their ears whilst sniffing. Playful individuals will perk their ears and rise on their hind legs. Male foxes courting females, or after successfully evicting intruders, will turn their ears outwardly, and raise their tails in a horizontal position, with the tips raised upward. When afraid, red foxes grin in submission, arching their backs, curving their bodies, crouching their legs and lashing their tails back and forth with their ears pointing backwards and pressed against their skulls. When merely expressing submission to a dominant animal, the posture is similar, but without arching the back or curving the body. Submissive foxes will approach dominant animals in a low posture, so that their muzzles reach up in greeting. When two evenly matched foxes confront each other over food, they approach each other sideways and push against each other's flanks, betraying a mixture of fear and aggression through lashing tails and arched backs without crouching and pulling their ears back without flattening them against their skulls. When launching an assertive attack, red foxes approach directly rather than sideways, with their tails aloft and their ears rotated sideways.[45] During such fights, red foxes will stand on each other's upper bodies with their forelegs, using open mouthed threats. Such fights typically only occur among juveniles or adults of the same sex.[8]

Vocalisations edit

 
A pair of Wasatch Mountains foxes (V. v. macroura) squabbling
 
Red fox barks, recorded in Gloucestershire, England, January 1977
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Red foxes have a wide vocal range, and produce different sounds spanning five octaves, which grade into each other.[45]: 28  Recent analyses identify 12 different sounds produced by adults and 8 by kits.[8] The majority of sounds can be divided into "contact" and "interaction" calls. The former vary according to the distance between individuals, while the latter vary according to the level of aggression.[45]: 28 

  • Contact calls: The most commonly heard contact call is a three to five syllable barking "wow wow wow" sound, which is often made by two foxes approaching one another. This call is most frequently heard from December to February (when they can be confused with the territorial calls of tawny owls). The "wow wow wow" call varies according to individual; captive foxes have been recorded to answer pre-recorded calls of their pen-mates, but not those of strangers. Kits begin emitting the "wow wow wow" call at the age of 19 days, when craving attention. When red foxes draw close together, they emit trisyllabic greeting warbles similar to the clucking of chickens. Adults greet their kits with gruff huffing noises.[45]: 28 
  • Interaction calls: When greeting one another, red foxes emit high pitched whines, particularly submissive animals. A submissive fox approached by a dominant animal will emit a ululating siren-like shriek. During aggressive encounters with conspecifics, they emit a throaty rattling sound, similar to a ratchet, called "gekkering". Gekkering occurs mostly during the courting season from rival males or vixens rejecting advances.[45]: 28 

Another call that does not fit into the two categories is a long, drawn-out, monosyllabic "waaaaah" sound. As it is commonly heard during the breeding season, it is thought to be emitted by vixens summoning males. When danger is detected, foxes emit a monosyllabic bark. At close quarters, it is a muffled cough, while at long distances it is sharper. Kits make warbling whimpers when nursing, these calls being especially loud when they are dissatisfied.[45]: 28 

Ecology edit

Diet, hunting and feeding behaviour edit

 
A red fox with a coypu

Red foxes are omnivores with a highly varied diet.[70][71] Research conducted in the former Soviet Union showed red foxes consuming over 300 animal species and a few dozen species of plants.[6] They primarily feed on small rodents like voles, mice, ground squirrels, hamsters, gerbils, woodchucks, pocket gophers and deer mice.[6][9] Secondary prey species include birds (with Passeriformes, Galliformes and waterfowl predominating), leporids, porcupines, raccoons, opossums, reptiles, insects, other invertebrates, flotsam (marine mammals, fish and echinoderms) and carrion.[6][9][72] On very rare occasions, foxes may attack young or small ungulates.[6] They typically target mammals up to about 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) in weight, and they require 500 g (18 oz) of food daily.[43] Red foxes readily eat plant material and in some areas fruit can amount to 100% of their diet in autumn. Commonly consumed fruits include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, persimmons, mulberries, apples, plums, grapes and acorns. Other plant material includes grasses, sedges and tubers.[9]

Red foxes are implicated in the predation of game and song birds, hares, rabbits, muskrats and young ungulates, particularly in preserves, reserves and hunting farms where ground-nesting birds are protected and raised, as well as in poultry farms.[6]

While the popular consensus is that olfaction is very important for hunting,[73] two studies that experimentally investigated the role of olfactory, auditory and visual cues found that visual cues are the most important ones for hunting in red foxes[74] and coyotes.[75][76]

Red foxes prefer to hunt in the early morning hours before sunrise and late evening.[6] Although they typically forage alone, they may aggregate in resource-rich environments.[68] When hunting mouse-like prey, they first pinpoint their prey's location by sound, then leap, sailing high above their quarry, steering in mid-air with their tails, before landing on target up to 5 m (16 ft) away.[1] They typically only feed on carrion in the late evening hours and at night.[6] They are extremely possessive of their food and will defend their catches from even dominant animals.[45]: 58  Red foxes may occasionally commit acts of surplus killing; during one breeding season, four red foxes were recorded to have killed around 200 black-headed gulls each, with peaks during dark, windy hours when flying conditions were unfavourable. Losses to poultry and penned game birds can be substantial because of this.[8][45]: 164  Red foxes seem to dislike the taste of moles, but will nonetheless catch them alive and present them to their kits as playthings.[45]: 41 

A 2008–2010 study of 84 red foxes in the Czech Republic and Germany found that successful hunting in long vegetation or under snow appeared to involve an alignment of the red fox with the Earth's magnetic field.[77][78]

Enemies and competitors edit

 
A red fox confronting a grey fox

Red foxes typically dominate other fox species. Arctic foxes generally escape competition from red foxes by living farther north, where food is too scarce to support the larger-bodied red species. Although the red species' northern limit is linked to the availability of food, the Arctic species' southern range is limited by the presence of the former. Red and Arctic foxes were both introduced to almost every island from the Aleutian Islands to the Alexander Archipelago during the 1830s–1930s by fur companies. The red foxes invariably displaced the Arctic foxes, with one male red fox having been reported to have killed off all resident Arctic foxes on a small island in 1866.[45] Where they are sympatric, Arctic foxes may also escape competition by feeding on lemmings and flotsam rather than voles, as favoured by red foxes. Both species will kill each other's kits, given the opportunity.[6] Red foxes are serious competitors of corsac foxes, as they hunt the same prey all year. The red species is also stronger, is better adapted to hunting in snow deeper than 10 cm (3.9 in) and is more effective in hunting and catching medium-sized to large rodents. Corsac foxes seem to only outcompete red foxes in semi-desert and steppe areas.[6][79] In Israel, Blanford's foxes escape competition with red foxes by restricting themselves to rocky cliffs and actively avoiding the open plains inhabited by red foxes.[45]: 84–85  Red foxes dominate kit and swift foxes. Kit foxes usually avoid competition with their larger cousins by living in more arid environments, though red foxes have been increasing in ranges formerly occupied by kit foxes due to human-induced environmental changes. Red foxes will kill both species and compete with them for food and den sites.[9] Grey foxes are exceptional, as they dominate red foxes wherever their ranges meet. Historically, interactions between the two species were rare, as grey foxes favoured heavily wooded or semiarid habitats as opposed to the open and mesic ones preferred by red foxes. However, interactions have become more frequent due to deforestation, allowing red foxes to colonise grey fox-inhabited areas.[9]

Wolves may kill and eat red foxes in disputes over carcasses.[6][80] In areas in North America where red fox and coyote populations are sympatric, red fox ranges tend to be located outside coyote territories. The principal cause of this separation is believed to be active avoidance of coyotes by the red foxes. Interactions between the two species vary in nature, ranging from active antagonism to indifference. The majority of aggressive encounters are initiated by coyotes, and there are few reports of red foxes acting aggressively toward coyotes except when attacked or when their kits were approached. Foxes and coyotes have sometimes been seen feeding together.[81] In Israel, red foxes share their habitat with golden jackals. Where their ranges meet, the two canids compete due to near-identical diets. Red foxes ignore golden jackal scents or tracks in their territories and avoid close physical proximity with golden jackals themselves. In areas where golden jackals become very abundant, the population of red foxes decreases significantly, apparently because of competitive exclusion.[82]

 
A golden eagle feeding on a red fox
 
A red fox challenging two Eurasian badgers

Red foxes dominate raccoon dogs, sometimes killing their kits or biting adults to death. Cases are known of red foxes killing raccoon dogs after entering their dens. Both species compete for mouse-like prey. This competition reaches a peak during early spring when food is scarce. In Tatarstan, red fox predation accounted for 11.1% of deaths among 54 raccoon dogs and amounted to 14.3% of 186 raccoon dog deaths in northwestern Russia.[6]

Red foxes may kill small mustelids like weasels,[9] stone martens,[83] pine martens (martes martes), stoats, siberian weasels, polecats and young sables. Eurasian badgers may live alongside red foxes in isolated sections of large burrows.[6] It is possible that the two species tolerate each other out of mutualism; red foxes provide Eurasian badgers with food scraps, while Eurasian badgers maintain the shared burrow's cleanliness.[28]: 15  However, cases are known of Eurasian badgers driving vixens from their dens and destroying their litters without eating them.[84] Wolverines may kill red foxes, often while the latter is sleeping or near carrion.[6]: 546  Red foxes, in turn, may kill young wolverines.[85]

Red foxes may compete with striped hyenas on large carcasses. Red foxes may give way to striped hyenas on unopened carcasses, as the latter's stronger jaws can easily tear open flesh that is too tough for red foxes. Red foxes may harass striped hyenas, using their smaller size and greater speed to avoid the hyena's attacks. Sometimes, red foxes seem to deliberately torment striped hyenas even when there is no food at stake. Some red foxes may mis-time their attacks and are killed.[45]: 77–79  Red fox remains are often found in striped hyena dens and striped hyenas may steal red foxes from traps.[6]

In Eurasia, red foxes may be preyed upon by leopards, caracals and Eurasian lynxes. The Eurasian lynxes chase red foxes into deep snow, where their long legs and larger paws give them an advantage over red foxes, especially when the depth of the snow exceeds one meter.[6] In the Velikoluksky District in Russia, red foxes are absent or are seen only occasionally where Eurasian lynxes establish permanent territories.[6] Researchers consider Eurasian lynxes to represent considerably less danger to red foxes than wolves do.[6] North American felid predators of red foxes include cougars, Canada lynxes and bobcats.[42]

Red foxes compete with various birds of prey such as common buzzards (Buteo buteo) and northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) and even steal their kills.[86][87] In turn, golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) regularly takes young red foxes and prey on adults if needed.[88][89] Other large eagles such as wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), eastern imperial eagles (Aquila heliaca), white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), and steller's sea eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus) have also been known to kill red foxes less frequently.[90][91][92][93][94] Additionally, large owls such as Eurasian eagle-owls (Bubo bubo) and snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) will prey on young foxes, and adults on exceptional occasions.[95][96][97]

Diseases and parasites edit

 
A European fox (V. v. crucigera) with mange

Red foxes are the most important rabies vector in Europe. In London, arthritis is common in foxes, being particularly frequent in the spine.[8] Foxes may be infected with leptospirosis and tularemia, though they are not overly susceptible to the latter. They may also fall ill from listeriosis and spirochetosis, as well as acting as vectors in spreading erysipelas, brucellosis and tick-borne encephalitis. A mysterious fatal disease near Lake Sartlan in the Novosibirsk Oblast was noted among local red foxes, but the cause was undetermined. The possibility was considered that it was caused by an acute form of encephalomyelitis, which was first observed in captive-bred silver foxes. Individual cases of foxes infected with Yersinia pestis are known.[6]

Red foxes are not readily prone to infestation with fleas. Species like Spilopsyllus cuniculi are probably only caught from the fox's prey species, while others like Archaeopsylla erinacei are caught whilst traveling. Fleas that feed on red foxes include Pulex irritans, Ctenocephalides canis and Paraceras melis. Ticks such as Ixodes ricinus and I. hexagonus are not uncommon in red foxes, and are typically found on nursing vixens and kits still in their earths. The louse Trichodectes vulpis specifically targets red foxes, but is found infrequently. The mite Sarcoptes scabiei is the most important cause of mange in red foxes. It causes extensive hair loss, starting from the base of the tail and hindfeet, then the rump before moving on to the rest of the body. In the final stages of the condition, red foxes can lose most of their fur, 50% of their body weight and may gnaw at infected extremities. In the epizootic phase of the disease, it usually takes red foxes four months to die after infection. Other endoparasites include Demodex folliculorum, Notoderes, Otodectes cynotis (which is frequently found in the ear canal), Linguatula serrata (which infects the nasal passages) and ringworms.[6]

Up to 60 helminth species are known to infect captive-bred foxes in fur farms, while 20 are known in the wild. Several coccidian species of the genera Isospora and Eimeria are also known to infect them.[6] The most common nematode species found in red fox guts are Toxocara canis and Uncinaria stenocephala, Capillaria aerophila[98] and Crenosoma vulpis; the latter two infect their lungs and trachea.[99] Capillaria plica infects the red fox's bladder. Trichinella spiralis rarely affects them. The most common tapeworm species in red foxes are Taenia spiralis and T. pisiformis. Others include Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. Eleven trematode species infect red foxes,[8] including Metorchis conjunctus.[100] A red fox from was found to be a host of intestinal parasitic acanthocephalan worms, Pachysentis canicola in Bushehr Province, Iran,[101] Pachysentis procumbens and Pachysentis ehrenbergi in both in Egypt.[102]

Relationships with humans edit

In folklore, religion and mythology edit

Further information: Foxes in culture
 
Reynard the Fox in an 1869 children's book

Red foxes feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric. In Greek mythology, the Teumessian fox,[103] or Cadmean vixen, was a gigantic fox that was destined never to be caught. The fox was one of the children of Echidna.[104]

In Celtic mythology, the red fox is a symbolic animal. In the Cotswolds, witches were thought to take the shape of foxes to steal butter from their neighbours.[105] In later European folklore, the figure of Reynard the Fox symbolises trickery and deceit. He originally appeared (then under the name of "Reinardus") as a secondary character in the 1150 poem "Ysengrimus". He reappeared in 1175 in Pierre Saint Cloud's Le Roman de Renart, and made his debut in England in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Nun's Priest's Tale. Many of Reynard's adventures may stem from actual observations on fox behaviour; he is an enemy of the wolf and has a fondness for blackberries and grapes.[45]: 32–33 

Chinese folk tales tell of fox-spirits called huli jing that may have up to nine tails, or kumiho as they are known in Korea.[106] In Japanese mythology, the kitsune are fox-like spirits possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others, other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.[107] In Arab folklore, the fox is considered a cowardly, weak, deceitful, and cunning animal, said to feign death by filling its abdomen with air to appear bloated, then lies on its side, awaiting the approach of unwitting prey.[39] The animal's cunning was noted by the authors of the Bible who applied the word "fox" to false prophets (Ezekiel 13:4) and the hypocrisy of Herod Antipas (Luke 13:32).[108]

The cunning Fox is commonly found in Native American mythology, where it is portrayed as an almost constant companion to Coyote. Fox, however, is a deceitful companion that often steals Coyote's food. In the Achomawi creation myth, Fox and Coyote are the co-creators of the world, that leave just before the arrival of humans. The Yurok tribe believed that Fox, in anger, captured the Sun, and tied him to a hill, causing him to burn a great hole in the ground. An Inuit story tells of how Fox, portrayed as a beautiful woman, tricks a hunter into marrying her, only to resume her true form and leave after he offends her. A Menominee story tells of how Fox is an untrustworthy friend to Wolf.[109]

Hunting edit

Further information: Fox hunting
 
Beagle and Fox (1885) by Bruno Liljefors

The earliest historical records of fox hunting come from the 4th century BC; Alexander the Great is known to have hunted foxes and a seal dated from 350 BC depicts a Persian horseman in the process of spearing a fox. Xenophon, who viewed hunting as part of a cultured man's education, advocated the killing of foxes as pests, as they distracted hounds from hares. The Romans were hunting foxes by AD 80. During the Dark Ages in Europe, foxes were considered secondary quarries, but gradually grew in importance. Cnut the Great re-classed foxes as Beasts of the Chase, a lower category of quarry than Beasts of Venery. Foxes were gradually hunted less as vermin and more as Beasts of the Chase, to the point that by the late 1200s, Edward I had a royal pack of foxhounds and a specialised fox huntsman. In this period, foxes were increasingly hunted above ground with hounds, rather than underground with terriers. Edward, Second Duke of York assisted the climb of foxes as more prestigious quarries in his The Master of Game. By the Renaissance, fox hunting became a traditional sport of the nobility. After the English Civil War caused a drop in deer populations, fox hunting grew in popularity. By the mid-1600s, Great Britain was divided into fox hunting territories, with the first fox hunting clubs being formed (the first was the Charlton Hunt Club in 1737). The popularity of fox hunting in Great Britain reached a peak during the 1700s.[45]: 21  Although already native to North America, red foxes from England were imported for sporting purposes to Virginia and Maryland in 1730 by prosperous tobacco planters.[110] These American fox hunters considered the red fox more sporting than the grey fox.[110]

The grays furnished more fun, the reds more excitement. The grays did not run so far, but usually kept near home, going in a circuit of six or eight miles. 'An old red, generally so called irrespective of age, as a tribute to his prowess, might lead the dogs all day, and end by losing them as evening fell, after taking them a dead stretch for thirty miles. The capture of a gray was what men boasted of; a chase after 'an old red' was what they 'yarned' about.[110]

Red foxes are still widely persecuted as pests, with human-caused deaths among the highest causes of mortality in the species. Annual red fox kills are: UK 21,500–25,000 (2000); Germany 600,000 (2000–2001); Austria 58,000 (2000–2001); Sweden 58,000 (1999–2000); Finland 56,000 (2000–2001); Denmark 50,000 (1976–1977); Switzerland 34,832 (2001); Norway 17,000 (2000–2001); Saskatchewan (Canada) 2,000 (2000–2001); Nova Scotia (Canada) 491 (2000–2001); Minnesota (US) 4,000–8,000 (average annual trapping harvest 2002–2009);[111] New Mexico (US) 69 (1999–2000).[83]

Fur use edit

 
Red fox pelts
 
A red fox in a fur farm in Vörå, Finland

Red foxes are among the most important fur-bearing animals harvested by the fur trade. Their pelts are used for trimmings, scarfs, muffs, jackets and coats. They are principally used as trimming for both cloth coats and fur garments, including evening wraps.[12]: 229–230  The pelts of silver foxes are popular as capes,[12]: 246  while cross foxes are mostly used for scarves and rarely for trimming.[12]: 252  The number of sold fox scarves exceeds the total number of scarves made from other fur-bearers. However, this amount is overshadowed by the total number of red fox pelts used for trimming purposes.[12]: 229–230  The silver colour morphs are the most valued by furriers, followed by the cross colour morphs and the red colour morphs, respectively.[28]: 207  In the early 1900s, over 1,000 American red fox skins were imported to Great Britain annually, while 500,000 were exported annually from Germany and Russia.[28]: 6  The total worldwide trade of wild red foxes in 1985–86 was 1,543,995 pelts. Red foxes amounted to 45% of U.S. wild-caught pelts worth $50 million.[83] Pelt prices are increasing, with 2012 North American wholesale auction prices averaging $39 and 2013 prices averaging $65.78.[112]

North American red foxes, particularly those of northern Alaska, are the most valued for their fur, as they have guard hairs of a silky texture which, after dressing, allow the wearer unrestricted mobility. Red foxes living in southern Alaska's coastal areas and the Aleutian Islands are an exception, as they have extremely coarse pelts that rarely exceed one-third of the price of their northern Alaskan cousins.[12]: 231  Most European peltries have coarse-textured fur compared to North American varieties. The only exceptions are the Nordic and Far Eastern Russian peltries, but they are still inferior to North American peltries in terms of silkiness.[12]: 235 

Livestock and pet predation edit

 
A carcass of a lamb near a red fox den
 
A red fox in a Birmingham garden investigating a rabbit hutch

Red foxes may on occasion prey on lambs. Usually, lambs targeted by red foxes tend to be physically weakened specimens, but not always. Lambs belonging to small breeds, such as the Scottish Blackface, are more vulnerable than larger breeds, such as the Merino. Twins may be more vulnerable to red foxes than singlets, as ewes cannot effectively defend both simultaneously. Crossbreeding small, upland ewes with larger, lowland rams can cause difficult and prolonged labour for ewes due to the heaviness of the resulting offspring, thus making the lambs more at risk to red fox predation. Lambs born from gimmers (ewes breeding for the first time) are more often killed by red foxes than those of experienced mothers, who stick closer to their young.[45]: 166–167 

Red foxes may prey on domestic rabbits and guinea pigs if they are kept in open runs or are allowed to range freely in gardens. This problem is usually averted by housing them in robust hutches and runs. Urban red foxes frequently encounter cats and may feed alongside them. In physical confrontations, the cats usually have the upper hand. Authenticated cases of red foxes killing cats usually involve kittens. Although most red foxes do not prey on cats, some may do so and may treat them more as competitors rather than food.[45]: 180–181 

Taming and domestication edit

Further information: Domesticated silver fox
 
A young boy holding a tame red fox kit

In their unmodified wild state, red foxes are generally unsuitable as pets.[113] Many supposedly abandoned kits are adopted by well-meaning people during the spring period, though it is unlikely that vixens would abandon their young. Actual orphans are rare and the ones that are adopted are likely kits that simply strayed from their den sites.[114] Kits require almost constant supervision; when still suckling, they require milk at four-hour intervals day and night. Once weaned, they may become destructive to leather objects, furniture and electric cables.[45]: 56  Though generally friendly toward people when young, captive red foxes become fearful of humans, save for their handlers, once they reach 10 weeks of age.[45]: 61  They maintain their wild counterparts' strong instinct of concealment and may pose a threat to domestic birds, even when well-fed.[28]: 122  Although suspicious of strangers, they can form bonds with cats and dogs, even ones bred for fox hunting. Tame red foxes were once used to draw ducks close to hunting blinds.[28]: 132–133 

White to black individual red foxes have been selected and raised on fur farms as "silver foxes". In the second half of the 20th century, a lineage of domesticated silver foxes was developed by Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyayev who, over a 40-year period, bred several generations selecting only those individuals that showed the least fear of humans. Eventually, Belyayev's team selected only those that showed the most positive response to humans, thus resulting in a population of silver foxes whose behaviour and appearance was significantly changed. After about 10 generations of controlled breeding, these foxes no longer showed any fear of humans and often wagged their tails and licked their human caretakers to show affection. These behavioural changes were accompanied by physical alterations, which included piebald coats, floppy ears in kits and curled tails, similar to the traits that distinguish domestic dogs from grey wolves.[115]

Urban red foxes edit

Distribution edit

Red foxes have been exceedingly successful in colonising built-up environments, especially lower-density suburbs,[43] although many have also been sighted in dense urban areas far from the countryside. Throughout the 20th century, they have established themselves in many Australian, European, Japanese and North American cities. The species first colonised British cities during the 1930s, entering Bristol and London during the 1940s, and later established themselves in Cambridge and Norwich. In Ireland, they are now common in suburban Dublin. In Australia, red foxes were recorded in Melbourne as early as the 1930s, while in Zurich, Switzerland, they only started appearing in the 1980s.[116] Urban red foxes are most common in residential suburbs consisting of privately owned, low-density housing. They are rare in areas where industry, commerce or council-rented houses predominate.[43] In these latter areas, the distribution is of a lower average density because they rely less on human resources; the home range of these foxes average from 80–90 ha (0.80–0.90 km2; 200–220 acres), whereas those in more residential areas average from 25–40 ha (0.25–0.40 km2; 62–99 acres).[117]

In 2006, it was estimated that there were 10,000 red foxes in London.[118] City-dwelling red foxes may have the potential to consistently grow larger than their rural counterparts as a result of abundant scraps and a relative lack of predators. In cities, red foxes may scavenge food from litter bins and bin bags, although much of their diet is similar to rural red foxes.[citation needed]

Behaviour edit

Urban red foxes are most active at dusk and dawn, doing most of their hunting and scavenging at these times. It is uncommon to spot them during the day, but they can be caught sunbathing on roofs of houses or sheds. Urban red foxes will often make their homes in hidden and undisturbed spots in urban areas as well as on the edges of a city, visiting at night for sustenance. They sleep at night in dens. While urban red foxes will scavenge successfully in the city (and the red foxes tend to eat anything that humans eat) some urban residents will deliberately leave food out for the animals, finding them endearing. Doing this regularly can attract urban red foxes to one's home; they can become accustomed to human presence, warming up to their providers by allowing themselves to be approached and in some cases even played with, particularly young kits.[117]

Urban red fox control edit

Urban red foxes can cause problems for local residents. They have been known to steal chickens, disrupt rubbish bins and damage gardens. Most complaints about urban red foxes made to local authorities occur during the breeding season in late January/early February or from late April to August when the new kits are developing.[117] In the U.K., hunting red foxes in urban areas is banned and shooting them in an urban environment is not suitable. One alternative to hunting urban red foxes has been to trap them, which appears to be a more viable method.[119] However, killing red foxes has little effect on the population in an urban area; those that are killed are very soon replaced, either by new kits during the breeding season or by other red foxes moving into the territory of those that were killed. A more effective method of urban red fox control is to deter them from the specific areas they inhabit. Deterrents such as creosote, diesel oil, or ammonia can be used. Cleaning up and blocking access to den locations can also discourage an urban red fox's return.[117]

Relationship between urban and rural red foxes edit

In January 2014 it was reported that "Fleet", a relatively tame urban red fox tracked as part of a wider study by the University of Brighton in partnership with the BBC TV series Winterwatch, had unexpectedly traveled 195 miles in 21 days from his neighbourhood in Hove at the western edge of East Sussex across rural countryside as far as Rye, at the eastern edge of the county. He was still continuing his journey when the GPS collar stopped transmitting due to suspected water damage. Along with setting a record for the longest journey undertaken by a tracked red fox in the United Kingdom, his travels have highlighted the fluidity of movement between rural and urban red fox populations.[120][121]

  •  
    An urban red fox crossing a street
  •  
    An urban red fox in central London
  •  
    An urban red fox eating from a bag of biscuits in Dorset, England
  •  
    "Fleet", the urban red fox from the BBC TV series Winterwatch
  • An urban red fox with a discarded KFC bag

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Further reading edit

  • Osborn, Dale. J. & Helmy, Ibrahim (1980). "The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai)". Fieldiana. New Series. Field Museum of Natural History (5).
  • Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio; Hoffman, Michael & MacDonald, David W. (2004). . IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. ISBN 978-2-8317-0786-0. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.
  • Spagnesi, Mario & De Marina Marinis, Maria (2002). "Mammiferi d'Italia". Quaderni di Conservazione della Natura. ISSN 1592-2901.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to the red fox.
 
Wikispecies has information related to Red fox.
 
Look up Fox in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  • "Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 March 2006.
  • , National Geographic
  • Natural History of the Red Fox, Wildlife Online
  • Sacramento Valley red fox info1
  • Red Fox, Fletcher Wildlife Garden

January 19, 2024
other, uses, disambiguation, vulpes, vulpes, largest, true, foxes, most, widely, distributed, members, order, carnivora, being, present, across, entire, northern, hemisphere, including, most, north, america, europe, asia, plus, parts, north, africa, listed, le. For other uses see Red Fox disambiguation The red fox Vulpes vulpes is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America Europe and Asia plus parts of North Africa It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List 1 Its range has increased alongside human expansion having been introduced to Australia where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations Due to its presence in Australia it is included on the list of the world s 100 worst invasive species 3 Red foxTemporal range 0 7 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Middle Pleistocene presentConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily CanidaeGenus VulpesSpecies V vulpesBinomial nameVulpes vulpes Linnaeus 1758 2 Subspecies45 subspeciesDistribution of the red fox native introduced presence uncertainSynonymsCanis vulpes Linnaeus 1758 Canis alopex Linnaeus 1758The red fox originated from smaller sized ancestors from Eurasia during the Middle Villafranchian period 4 and colonised North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation 5 Among the true foxes the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of carnivory 6 Apart from its large size the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments Despite its name the species often produces individuals with other colourings including leucistic and melanistic individuals 6 Forty five subspecies are currently recognised 7 which are divided into two categories the large northern foxes and the small basal southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa 6 Red foxes are usually found in pairs or small groups consisting of families such as a mated pair and their young or a male with several females having kinship ties The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits 8 The species primarily feeds on small rodents though it may also target rabbits squirrels game birds reptiles invertebrates 6 and young ungulates 6 Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten sometimes 9 Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators including other fox species it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators such as wolves coyotes golden jackals large predatory birds such as golden eagles and Eurasian eagle owls 10 and medium and large sized felids 11 The species has a long history of association with humans having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for many centuries as well as being represented in human folklore and mythology Because of its widespread distribution and large population the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade 12 229 230 Too small to pose a threat to humans it has extensively benefited from the presence of human habitation and has successfully colonised many suburban and urban areas Domestication of the red fox is also underway in Russia and has resulted in the domesticated silver fox Contents 1 Terminology 2 Etymology 3 Evolution 3 1 Origins 3 2 Colonisation of North America 3 3 Subspecies 4 Description 4 1 Build 4 2 Dimensions 4 3 Fur 4 3 1 Colour morphs 4 4 Senses 4 5 Scent glands 5 Distribution and habitat 5 1 Australia 5 2 Sardinia Italy 6 Behaviour 6 1 Social and territorial behaviour 6 2 Reproduction and development 6 3 Denning behaviour 7 Communication 7 1 Body language 7 2 Vocalisations 8 Ecology 8 1 Diet hunting and feeding behaviour 8 2 Enemies and competitors 8 3 Diseases and parasites 9 Relationships with humans 9 1 In folklore religion and mythology 9 2 Hunting 9 3 Fur use 9 4 Livestock and pet predation 9 5 Taming and domestication 9 6 Urban red foxes 9 6 1 Distribution 9 6 2 Behaviour 9 6 3 Urban red fox control 9 6 4 Relationship between urban and rural red foxes 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksTerminology edit nbsp Juvenile red foxes are known as kitsMales are called tods or dogs females are called vixens and young are known as cubs or kits 13 Although the Arctic fox has a small native population in northern Scandinavia and while the corsac fox s range extends into European Russia the red fox is the only fox native to Western Europe and so is simply called the fox in colloquial British English Etymology editThe word fox comes from Old English which derived from Proto Germanic fuhsaz Compare with West Frisian foks Dutch vos and German Fuchs This in turn derives from Proto Indo European puḱ thick haired tail Compare to the Hindi pu ch tail Tocharian B paka tail chowrie and Lithuanian paustis fur The bushy tail also forms the basis for the fox s Welsh name llwynog literally bushy from llwyn bush Likewise Portuguese raposa from rabo tail Lithuanian uodẽgis from uodega tail and Ojibwe waagosh from waa which refers to the up and down bounce or flickering of an animal or its tail citation needed The scientific term vulpes derives from the Latin word for fox and gives the adjectives vulpine and vulpecular 14 Evolution edit nbsp Comparative illustration of skulls of the red fox left and Ruppell s fox right note the more developed facial area of the former The red fox is considered to be a more specialised form of Vulpes than the Afghan corsac and Bengal fox species in regards to their overall size and adaptation to carnivory the skull displays far fewer neotenous traits than in other foxes and its facial area is more developed 6 It is however not as adapted for a purely carnivorous diet as the Tibetan fox 6 The sister lineage to the red fox is the Ruppell s fox but the two species are surprisingly closely related through mitochondrial DNA markers with Ruppell s fox nested inside the lineages of red foxes Such a nesting of one species within another is called paraphyly Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain this 15 including 1 recent divergence of Ruppell s fox from a red fox lineage 2 incomplete lineage sorting or introgression of mtDNA between the two species Based on fossil record evidence the last scenario seems most likely which is further supported by the clear ecological and morphological differences between the two species citation needed Arctic fox nbsp Kit fox nbsp Corsac fox nbsp Ruppell s fox nbsp Red fox nbsp 16 Fig 10 Cape fox nbsp Blanford s fox nbsp Fennec fox nbsp Raccoon dog nbsp Bat eared fox nbsp Origins edit The species is Eurasian in origin and may have evolved from either Vulpes alopecoides or the related Chinese V chikushanensis both of which lived during the Middle Villafranchian of the Pleistocene Epoch 4 The earliest fossil specimens of V vulpes were uncovered in Baranya County Hungary dating from 3 4 to 1 8 million years ago 17 The ancestral red fox was likely more diminutive compared to today s extant foxes as the earliest red fox fossils have shown a smaller build than living specimens 4 115 116 The earliest fossil remains of the modern species date back to the mid Pleistocene 18 found in association with middens and refuse left by early human settlements This has led to the theory that the red fox was hunted by primitive humans as both a source of food and pelts the possibility also exists of red foxes scavenging from middens or butchered animal carcasses 19 Colonisation of North America edit Red foxes colonised the North American continent in two waves before and during the Illinoian glaciation and during the Wisconsinan glaciation 20 Gene mapping demonstrates that red foxes in North America have been isolated from their Old World counterparts for over 400 000 years thus raising the possibility that speciation has occurred and that the previous binomial name of Vulpes fulva may be valid 21 In the far north red fox fossils have been found in Sangamonian Stage deposits near the Fairbanks District Alaska and Medicine Hat Alberta Fossils dating from the Wisconsinan are present in 25 sites across Arkansas California Colorado Idaho Missouri New Mexico Ohio 22 Tennessee Texas Virginia and Wyoming Although they ranged far south during the Wisconsinan the onset of warm conditions shrank their range toward the north and they have only recently reclaimed their former North American ranges because of human induced environmental changes 5 Genetic testing indicates that two distinct red fox refugia exist in North America which have been separated since the Wisconsinan The northern or boreal refugium occurs in Alaska and western Canada and consists of the larger subspecies V v alascensis V v abietorum V v regalis and V v rubricosa The southern or montane refugium occurs in the subalpine parklands and alpine meadows of the west from the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada ranges consisting of the smaller subspecies V v cascadensis V v macroura V v necator and V v patwin The latter clade has been separated from all other red fox populations since at least the last glacial maximum and may possess unique ecological or physiological adaptations 20 Although European foxes V v crucigera were introduced to portions of the United States in the 1900s recent genetic investigation indicates an absence of European fox mitochondrial haplotypes in any North American populations 23 Additionally introduced eastern North American red foxes have colonised most of inland California from Southern California to the San Joaquin Valley Monterey and north coastal San Francisco Bay Area including urban San Francisco and adjacent cities In spite of the red fox s adaptability to city life they are still found in somewhat greater numbers in the northern portions of California north of the Bay Area than in the south as the wilderness is more alpine and isolated The eastern red foxes appear to have mixed with the Sacramento Valley red fox V v patwin only in a narrow hybrid zone 24 In addition no evidence is seen of interbreeding of eastern American red foxes in California with the montane Sierra Nevada red fox V v necator or other populations in the Intermountain West between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west 25 Subspecies edit nbsp Skull of a northern fox nbsp Skull of a southern grey desert foxThe 3rd edition of Mammal Species of the World 7 listed 45 subspecies as valid In 2010 a distinct 46th subspecies the Sacramento Valley red fox V v patwin which inhabits the grasslands of the Sacramento Valley was identified through mitochondrial haplotype studies 26 Castello 2018 recognized 30 subspecies of the Old World red fox and nine subspecies of the North American red fox as valid 27 Substantial gene pool mixing between different subspecies is known British red foxes have crossbred extensively with red foxes imported from Germany France Belgium Sardinia and possibly Siberia and Scandinavia 28 140 However genetic studies suggest very little differences between red foxes sampled across Europe 29 30 Lack of genetic diversity is consistent with the red fox being a highly agile species with one red fox covering 320 km 200 mi in under a year s time 31 Red fox subspecies in Eurasia and North Africa are divided into two categories 6 Northern foxes are large and brightly coloured Southern grey desert foxes include the Asian subspecies V v griffithi V v pusilla and V v flavescens These foxes display transitional features between the northern foxes and other smaller fox species their skulls possess more primitive neotenous traits than the northern foxes 6 and they are much smaller the maximum sizes attained by southern grey desert foxes are invariably less than the average sizes of northern foxes Their limbs are also longer and their ears larger 6 Red foxes living in Middle Asia show physical traits intermediate to the northern foxes and southern grey desert foxes 6 Subspecies Trinomial authority Trinomial authority year Description Range SynonymsScandinavian red foxV v vulpes nominate subspecies nbsp Linnaeus 1758 A large subspecies measuring 70 90 cm in length and weighing 5 10 kg the maximum length of the skull for males is 163 2 mm The fur is bright red with a strongly developed whitish and yellow ripple on the lower back 6 Scandinavia and the northern and middle forest districts of the European part of the former Soviet Union southwards to the forest steppe and eastwards approximately to the Urals and probably Central and Western Europe alopex Linnaeus 1758 communis Burnett 1829 lineatus Billberg 1827 nigro argenteus Nilsson 1820 nigrocaudatus Billberg 1827 septentrionalis Brass 1911 variegates Billberg 1827 vulgaris Oken 1816 British Columbia red fox 32 V v abietorum nbsp Merriam 1900 Generally similar to V v alascensis but with a lighter longer and more slender skull 33 Southern Yukon the North West Territories northern Alberta the interior of British Columbia and in the adjoining coastal southeast Alaska US 34 sitkaensis Brass 1911 Northern Alaskan foxV v alascensis nbsp Merriam 1900 A large long tailed small eared form with golden fulvous fur 33 The Andreafsky Wilderness Alaska U S Eastern Transcaucasian foxV v alpherakyi nbsp Satunin 1906 A small subspecies weighing 4 kg its maximum skull length is 132 39 mm in males and 121 26 mm in females The fur is rusty grey or rusty brown with a brighter rusty stripe along the spine The coat is short coarse and sparse 6 Geok Tepe Aralsk KazakhstanAnatolian foxV v anatolica nbsp Thomas 1920 Izmir the Aegean Region TurkeyArabian red foxV v arabica nbsp Thomas 1920 Dhofar and the Hajar Mountains OmanAtlas foxV v atlantica Wagner 1841 The Atlas Mountains Mila Province Algeria algeriensis Loche 1858 Labrador foxV v bangsi nbsp Merriam 1900 Similar to V v fulva but with smaller ears and less pronounced black markings on the ears and legs 33 L Anse au Loup the Strait of Belle Isle Labrador CanadaBarbary foxV v barbara Shaw 1800 The Barbary Coast northwestern Africa acaab Cabrera 1916 Anadyr foxV v beringiana nbsp Middendorff 1875 A large subspecies it is the most brightly coloured of the Old World red foxes the fur being saturated bright reddish and almost lacking the bright ripple along the back and flanks The coat is fluffy and soft 6 The shores of the Bering Strait northeastern Siberia anadyrensis J A Allen 1903 beringensis Merriam 1902 kamtschadensis Brass 1911 kamtschatica Dybowski 1922 schantaricus Yudin 1986 Cascade red foxV v cascadensis nbsp Merriam 1900 A short tailed small toothed subspecies with yellow rather than fulvous fur it is the subspecies most likely to produce cross colour morphs 33 The Cascade Mountains Skamania County Washington U S North Caucasian foxV v caucasica nbsp Dinnik 1914 A large subspecies its coat is variable in colour ranging from reddish to red grey and nearly grey The fur is short and coarse This subspecies could be a hybrid caused by mixing the populations of V v stepensis and V v karagan 6 Near Vladikavkaz the Caucasus RussiaEuropean foxV v crucigera nbsp Bechstein 1789 A medium sized subspecies its yellowish fulvous or reddish brown pelt lacks the whitish shading on the upper back The tail is not grey as in most other red fox subspecies 35 It is primarily distinguished from V v vulpes by its slightly smaller size distinctly smaller teeth and widely spaced premolars Red foxes present in Great Britain and therefore Australia are usually ascribed to this subspecies though many populations there display a great degree of tooth compaction not present in continental European red fox populations 8 All of Europe except Scandinavia the Iberian Peninsula and some islands of the Mediterranean Sea introduced to Australia and North America alba Borkhausen 1797 cinera Bechstein 1801 diluta Ognev 1924 europaeus Kerr 1792 hellenica Douma Petridou and Ondrias 1980 hypomelas Wagner 1841 lutea Bechstein 1801 melanogaster Bonaparte 1832 meridionalis Fitzinger 1855 nigra Borkhausen 1797 stepensis Brauner 1914 Trans Baikal foxV v daurica Ognev 1931 A large subspecies the colour along its spine is light dull yellowish reddish with a strongly developed white ripple and greyish longitudinal stripes on the anterior side of the limbs The coat is coarse but fluffy 6 Kharangoi 45 km west of Troizkosavsk Siberia ussuriensis Dybowski 1922 Newfoundland foxV v deletrix Bangs 1898 A very pale coloured form its light straw yellow fur deepens to golden yellow or buff fulvous in some places The tail lacks the usual black basal spot The hind feet and claws are very large 33 St George s Bay Newfoundland CanadaUssuri foxV v dolichocrania Ognev 1926 Sidemi southern Ussuri southeastern Siberia ognevi Yudin 1986 V v dorsalis J E Gray 1838Turkmenian foxV v flavescens nbsp J E Gray 1838 A small subspecies with an infantile looking skull and an overall grey coloured coat its body length is 49 57 5 cm and it weighs 2 2 3 2 kg 6 Northern Iran cinerascens Birula 1913 splendens Thomas 1902 American red foxV v fulva nbsp Desmarest 1820 This is a smaller subspecies than V v vulpes with a smaller sharper face a shorter tail a lighter pelt more profusely mixed with whitish and darker limbs 33 Eastern Canada and the eastern U S pennsylvanicus Rhoads 1894 Afghan red foxV v griffithi nbsp Blyth 1854 Slightly smaller than V v montana it has a more extensively hoary and silvered pelt 36 121 Kandahar Afghanistan flavescens Hutton 1845 Kodiak foxV v harrimani nbsp Merriam 1900 This large subspecies has an enormous tail and coarse wolf like fur on the tail and lower back The hairs on the neck and shoulders are greatly elongated and form a ruff 33 Kodiak Island Alaska U S South Chinese foxV v hoole R Swinhoe 1870 37 Near Amoy Fukien southern China aurantioluteus Matschie 1907 lineiventer R Swinhoe 1871 Sardinian foxV v ichnusae Miller 1907 A small subspecies with proportionately small ears 35 Sarrabus Sardinia Italy may have been introduced to the English Midlands 28 6 Cyprus foxV v indutus Miller 1907 Cape Pyla CyprusYakutsk foxV v jakutensis nbsp Ognev 1923 This subspecies is large but smaller than V v beringiana The back neck and shoulders are brownish rusty while the flanks are bright ocherous reddish yellow 6 The taiga south of Yakutsk eastern Siberia sibiricus Dybowski 1922 Japanese foxV v japonica nbsp Ognev 1923 Japan except for HokkaidoKaraganka foxV v karagan nbsp Erxleben 1777 A smaller subspecies than V v vulpes its fur is short coarse and of a light sandy yellow or yellowish grey colour 6 The Kirghiz Steppes Khirgizia Russia ferganensis Ognev 1926 melanotus Pallas 1811 pamirensis Ognev 1926 tarimensis Matschie 1907 Kenai Peninsula foxV v kenaiensis Merriam 1900 One of the largest North American subspecies it has softer fur than V v harrimani 33 The Kenai Peninsula Alaska U S Transcaucasian montane foxV v kurdistanica nbsp Satunin 1906 A form intermediate in size between V v alpheryaki and V v caucasica its fur is pale yellow or light grey sometimes brownish reddish and is fluffier and denser than that of the other two Caucasian red fox subspecies 6 Northeastern Turkey alticola Ognev 1926 Wasatch Mountains foxV v macroura nbsp Baird 1852 This fox is similar to V v fulvus but with a much longer tail larger hind feet and more extensive blackening of the limbs 33 Named for the Wasatch Mountains near the Great Salt Lake Utah found in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado and Utah western Wyoming and Montana through Idaho north to southern AlbertaHill foxV v montana nbsp Pearson 1836 This subspecies is distinguished from V v vulpes by its smaller size proportionately smaller skull and teeth and coarser fur The hairs on the sole of the feet are copiously mixed with softer woolly hairs 36 111 The Himalayas and northern Indian subcontinent alopex Blanford 1888 himalaicus Ogilby 1837 ladacensis Matschie 1907 nepalensis J E Gray 1837 waddelli Bonhote 1906 Sierra Nevada red fox or High Sierra foxV v necator nbsp Merriam 1900 Externally similar to V v fulvus it has a short tail but cranially it is more like V v macroura 33 The High Sierra CaliforniaNile foxV v niloticus nbsp E Geoffroy Saint Hilaire 1803 A small subspecies it measures 76 7 105 3 cm in body length 30 2 40 1 cm in tail length and weighs 1 8 3 8 kg It is ruddy to grey brown above and darker on the back of the neck The flanks are greyer and tinged with buff 38 It is larger than V v arabica and V v palaestina 39 Egypt and Sudan aegyptiacus Sonnini 1816 anubis Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833 vulpecula Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833 Turkestan foxV v ochroxantha Ognev 1926 Aksai Semirechye eastern Russian Turkestan KirgiziaPalestinian foxV v palaestina nbsp Thomas 1920 Ramleh near Jaffa IsraelKorean foxV v peculiosa Kishida 1924 Northeastern China Southeastern Russia and Korea kiyomassai Kishida and Mori 1929 White footed foxV v pusilla nbsp Blyth 1854 Slightly smaller than V v griffithii 36 123 it closely resembles the Bengal fox V bengalensis in size but is distinguished by its longer tail and hind feet 36 129 The Salt Range Punjab Pakistan leucopus Blyth 1854 persicus Blanford 1875 Northern plains foxV v regalis nbsp Merriam 1900 The largest North American red fox subspecies it has very large and broad ears and a very long tail It is a golden yellow colour with pure black feet 33 The Elk River Sherburne County Minnesota USNova Scotia foxV v rubricosa Bangs 1898 A large sized subspecies with a large broad tail and larger teeth and rostrum than V v fulvus it is the deepest coloured subspecies 33 Digby County Nova Scotia Canada bangsi Merriam 1900 deletrix Bangs 1898 rubricos Churcher 1960 vafra Bangs 1897 Ezo red foxV v schrencki nbsp Kishida 1924 Sakhalin Russia and Hokkaido JapanIberian foxV v silacea nbsp Miller 1907 Though equal in size to V v vulpes it has smaller teeth and more widely spaced premolars The fur is dull buff without any yellowish or reddish tints The hindquarters are frosted with white and the tail is clear grey in colour 40 The Iberian PeninsulaKurile Islands foxV v splendidissima Kishida 1924 The northern and central Kurile Islands RussiaSteppe red foxV v stepensis Brauner 1914 This subspecies is slightly smaller and more lightly coloured than V v crucigera with shorter coarser fur Specimens from the Crimean Mountains have brighter fluffier and denser fur 6 The steppes near Kherson Ukraine krymeamontana Brauner 1914 crymensis Brauner 1914 Tobolsk foxV v tobolica Ognev 1926 This large subspecies has yellowish rusty or dirty reddish fur with a well developed cross and often a black area on the belly The coat is long and fluffy 6 Obdorsk Tobolsk RussiaNorth Chinese foxV v tschiliensis nbsp Matschie 1907 Slightly larger than V v hoole but unlike other Chinese red foxes it closely approaches V v vulpes in size 41 Beijing and Hebei province China huli Sowerby 1923 Description editBuild edit nbsp Red fox left and corsac fox right yawningThe red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs The tail which is longer than half the body length 6 70 percent of head and body length 42 is fluffy and reaches the ground when in a standing position Their pupils are oval and vertically oriented 6 Nictitating membranes are present but move only when the eyes are closed The forepaws have five digits while the hind feet have only four and lack dewclaws 8 They are very agile being capable of jumping over 2 m 6 ft 7 in high fences and swim well 43 Vixens normally have four pairs of teats 6 though vixens with seven nine or ten teats are not uncommon 8 The testes of males are smaller than those of Arctic foxes 6 Their skulls are fairly narrow and elongated with small braincases Their canine teeth are relatively long Sexual dimorphism of the skull is more pronounced than in corsac foxes with female red foxes tending to have smaller skulls than males with wider nasal regions and hard palates as well as having larger canines 6 Their skulls are distinguished from those of dogs by their narrower muzzles less crowded premolars more slender canine teeth and concave rather than convex profiles 8 Dimensions edit Red foxes are the largest species of the genus Vulpes 44 However relative to dimensions red foxes are much lighter than similarly sized dogs of the genus Canis Their limb bones for example weigh 30 percent less per unit area of bone than expected for similarly sized dogs 45 They display significant individual sexual age and geographical variation in size On average adults measure 35 50 cm 14 20 in high at the shoulder and 45 90 cm 18 35 in in body length with tails measuring 30 55 5 cm 11 8 21 9 in The ears measure 7 7 12 5 cm 3 0 4 9 in and the hind feet 12 18 5 cm 4 7 7 3 in Weights range from 2 2 14 kg 4 9 30 9 lb with vixens typically weighing 15 20 less than males 46 47 Adult red foxes have skulls measuring 129 167 mm 5 1 6 6 in while those of vixens measure 128 159 mm 5 0 6 3 in 6 The forefoot print measures 60 mm 2 4 in in length and 45 mm 1 8 in in width while the hind foot print measures 55 mm 2 2 in long and 38 mm 1 5 in wide They trot at a speed of 6 13 km h 3 7 8 1 mph and have a maximum running speed of 50 km h 31 mph They have a stride of 25 35 cm 9 8 13 8 in when walking at a normal pace 45 36 North American red foxes are generally lightly built with comparatively long bodies for their mass and have a high degree of sexual dimorphism British red foxes are heavily built but short while continental European red foxes are closer to the general average among red fox populations 48 The largest red fox on record in Great Britain was a 1 4 m 4 ft 7 in long male that weighed 17 2 kg 38 lb killed in Aberdeenshire Scotland in early 2012 49 Fur edit nbsp A red fox in its winter coat in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado U S A The winter fur is dense soft silky and relatively long For the northern foxes the fur is very long dense and fluffy but it is shorter sparser and coarser in southern forms 6 Among northern foxes the North American varieties generally have the silkiest guard hairs 12 231 while most Eurasian red foxes have coarser fur 12 235 The fur in thermal windows areas such as the head and the lower legs is kept dense and short all year round while fur in other areas changes with the seasons The foxes actively control the peripheral vasodilation and peripheral vasoconstriction in these areas to regulate heat loss 50 There are three main colour morphs red silver black and cross see Mutations 42 In the typical red morph their coats are generally bright reddish rusty with yellowish tints A stripe of weak diffuse patterns of many brown reddish chestnut hairs occurs along the spine Two additional stripes pass down the shoulder blades which together with the spinal stripe form a cross The lower back is often a mottled silvery colour The flanks are lighter coloured than the back while the chin lower lips throat and front of the chest are white The remaining lower surface of the body is dark brown or reddish 6 During lactation the belly fur of vixens may turn brick red 8 The upper parts of the limbs are rusty reddish while the paws are black The frontal part of the face and upper neck is bright brownish rusty red while the upper lips are white The backs of the ears are black or brownish reddish while the inner surface is whitish The top of the tail is brownish reddish but lighter in colour than the back and flanks The underside of the tail is pale grey with a straw coloured tint A black spot the location of the supracaudal gland is usually present at the base of the tail The tip of the tail is white 6 Colour morphs edit nbsp Various red fox colour morphsAtypical colouration in the red fox usually represents stages toward full melanism 6 and mostly occurs in cold regions 9 Colour morph Image DescriptionRed nbsp The typical colouration see fur above Smokey The rump and spine is brown or grey with light yellowish bands on the guard hairs The cross on the shoulders is brown rusty brown or reddish brown The limbs are brown 6 Cross nbsp The fur has a darker colouration than the colour morph listed directly above The rump and lower back are dark brown or dark grey with varying degrees of silver on the guard hairs The cross on the shoulders is black or brown sometimes with light silvery fur The head and feet are brown 6 Blackish brown The melanistic colour morph of the Eurasian red foxes Has blackish brown or black skin with a light brownish tint The skin area usually has a variable admixture of silver Reddish hairs are either completely absent or in small quantities 6 Silver nbsp The melanistic colour morph of the North American red foxes but introduced to the Old World by the fur trade Characterised by pure black colour with skin that usually has a variable admixture of silver covering 25 100 of the skin area 6 Platinum nbsp Distinguished from the silver colour morph by its pale almost silvery white fur with a bluish cast 12 251 Amber nbsp Samson nbsp Distinguished by its woolly pelt which lacks guard hairs 12 230 Senses edit Red foxes have binocular vision 8 but their sight reacts mainly to movement Their auditory perception is acute being able to hear black grouse changing roosts at 600 paces the flight of crows at 0 25 0 5 km 0 16 0 31 mi and the squeaking of mice at about 100 m 330 ft 6 They are capable of locating sounds to within one degree at 700 3 000 Hz though less accurately at higher frequencies 43 Their sense of smell is good but weaker than that of specialised dogs 6 Scent glands edit Red foxes have a pair of anal sacs lined by sebaceous glands both of which open through a single duct 51 The size and volume of the anal sacs increases with age ranging in size from 5 40mm in length 1 3mm in diameter and with a capacity of 1 5mL 52 The anal sacs act as fermentation chambers in which aerobic and anaerobic bacteria convert sebum into odorous compounds including aliphatic acids The oval shaped caudal gland is 25 mm 0 98 in long and 13 mm 0 51 in wide and reportedly smells of violets 6 The presence of foot glands is equivocal The interdigital cavities are deep with a reddish tinge and smell strongly Sebaceous glands are present on the angle of the jaw and mandible 8 Distribution and habitat edit nbsp Multi coloured North American red foxThe red fox is a wide ranging species Its range covers nearly 70 000 000 km2 27 000 000 sq mi including as far north as the Arctic Circle It occurs all across Europe in Africa north of the Sahara Desert throughout Asia apart from extreme Southeast Asia and across North America apart from most of the southwestern United States and Mexico It is absent in Greenland Iceland the Arctic islands the most northern parts of central Siberia and in extreme deserts 1 It is not present in New Zealand and is classed as a prohibited new organism under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 which does not allow import 53 Australia edit Main article Feral foxes in Australia In Australia estimates in 2012 indicated that there were more than 7 2 million red foxes 54 with a range extending throughout most of the continental mainland 45 14 They became established in Australia through successive introductions in the 1830s and 1840s by settlers in the British colonies of Van Diemen s Land as early as 1833 and the Port Phillip District of New South Wales as early as 1845 who wanted to foster the traditional English sport of fox hunting A permanent red fox population did not establish itself on the island of Tasmania and it is widely held that foxes were out competed by the Tasmanian devil 55 On the mainland however the species was successful as an apex predator The fox is generally less common in areas where the dingo is more prevalent but it has primarily through its burrowing behaviour achieved niche differentiation with both the feral dog and the feral cat Consequently the fox has become one of the continent s most destructive invasive species citation needed The red fox has been implicated in the extinction or decline of several native Australian species particularly those of the family Potoroidae including the desert rat kangaroo 56 The spread of red foxes across the southern part of the continent has coincided with the spread of rabbits in Australia and corresponds with declines in the distribution of several medium sized ground dwelling mammals including brush tailed bettongs burrowing bettongs rufous bettongs bilbies numbats bridled nail tail wallabies and quokkas 57 Most of those species are now limited to areas such as islands where red foxes are absent or rare Local fox eradication programs exist although elimination has proven difficult due to the fox s denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting so the focus is on management including the introduction of state bounties 58 According to the Tasmanian government red foxes were accidentally introduced to the previously fox free island of Tasmania in 1999 or 2000 posing a significant threat to native wildlife including the eastern bettong and an eradication program was initiated conducted by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water 59 Sardinia Italy edit The origin of the ichnusae subspecies in Sardinia Italy is uncertain as it is absent from Pleistocene deposits in their current homeland It is possible it originated during the Neolithic following its introduction to the island by humans It is likely then that Sardinian fox populations stem from repeated introductions of animals from different localities in the Mediterranean This latter theory may explain the subspecies phenotypic diversity 19 Behaviour editSocial and territorial behaviour edit nbsp Red fox pressed against the trunk of a pine tree in Ilmatsalu Estonia nbsp Red foxes grooming each other nbsp A pair of European red foxes V v crucigera at the British Wildlife Centre Surrey England nbsp A red fox marking its territoryRed foxes either establish stable home ranges within particular areas or are itinerant with no fixed abode 45 117 They use their urine to mark their territories 60 61 A male fox raises one hind leg and his urine is sprayed forward in front of him whereas a female fox squats down so that the urine is sprayed in the ground between the hind legs 62 Urine is also used to mark empty cache sites used to store found food as reminders not to waste time investigating them 45 125 63 64 Males generally have higher urine marking rates during late summer and autumn but the rest of the year the rates between male and female are similar 65 The use of up to 12 different urination postures allows them to precisely control the position of the scent mark 66 Red foxes live in family groups sharing a joint territory In favourable habitats and or areas with low hunting pressure subordinate foxes may be present in a range Subordinate foxes may number one or two sometimes up to eight in one territory These subordinates could be formerly dominant animals but are mostly young from the previous year who act as helpers in rearing the breeding vixen s kits Alternatively their presence has been explained as being in response to temporary surpluses of food unrelated to assisting reproductive success Non breeding vixens will guard play groom provision and retrieve kits 8 an example of kin selection Red foxes may leave their families once they reach adulthood if the chances of winning a territory of their own are high If not they will stay with their parents at the cost of postponing their own reproduction 45 140 141 Reproduction and development edit Further information Mating behavior of melanistic red foxes nbsp nbsp nbsp Red fox kits nbsp Red foxes matingRed foxes reproduce once a year in spring Two months prior to oestrus typically December the reproductive organs of vixens change shape and size By the time they enter their oestrus period their uterine horns double in size and their ovaries grow 1 5 2 times larger Sperm formation in males begins in August September with the testicles attaining their greatest weight in December February 6 The vixen s oestrus period lasts three weeks 8 during which the dog foxes mate with the vixens for several days often in burrows The male s bulbus glandis enlarges during copulation 9 forming a copulatory tie which may last for more than an hour 8 The gestation period lasts 49 58 days 6 Though foxes are largely monogamous 67 DNA evidence from one population indicated large levels of polygyny incest and mixed paternity litters 8 Subordinate vixens may become pregnant but usually fail to whelp or have their kits killed postpartum by either the dominant female or other subordinates 8 source source source source Red fox kits coming out of their denThe average litter size consists of four to six kits though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred 6 Large litters are typical in areas where fox mortality is high 45 93 Kits are born blind deaf and toothless with dark brown fluffy fur At birth they weigh 56 110 g 2 0 3 9 oz and measure 14 5 cm 5 7 in in body length and 7 5 cm 3 0 in in tail length At birth they are short legged large headed and have broad chests 6 Mothers remain with the kits for 2 3 weeks as they are unable to thermoregulate During this period the fathers or barren vixens feed the mothers 8 Vixens are very protective of their kits and have been known to even fight off terriers in their defence 28 21 22 If the mother dies before the kits are independent the father takes over as their provider 28 13 The kits eyes open after 13 15 days during which time their ear canals open and their upper teeth erupt with the lower teeth emerging 3 4 days later 6 Their eyes are initially blue but change to amber at 4 5 weeks Coat colour begins to change at three weeks of age when the black eye streak appears By one month red and white patches are apparent on their faces During this time their ears erect and their muzzles elongate 8 Kits begin to leave their dens and experiment with solid food brought by their parents at the age of 3 4 weeks The lactation period lasts 6 7 weeks 6 Their woolly coats begin to be coated by shiny guard hairs after 8 weeks 8 By the age of 3 4 months the kits are long legged narrow chested and sinewy They reach adult proportions at the age of 6 7 months 6 Some vixens may reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 10 months thus bearing their first litters at one year of age 6 In captivity their longevity can be as long as 15 years though in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years of age 68 Denning behaviour edit nbsp Side and above view of a red fox denOutside the breeding season most red foxes favour living in the open in densely vegetated areas though they may enter burrows to escape bad weather 8 Their burrows are often dug on hill or mountain slopes ravines bluffs steep banks of water bodies ditches depressions gutters in rock clefts and neglected human environments Red foxes prefer to dig their burrows on well drained soils Dens built among tree roots can last for decades while those dug on the steppes last only several years 6 They may permanently abandon their dens during mange outbreaks possibly as a defence mechanism against the spread of disease 8 In the Eurasian desert regions foxes may use the burrows of wolves porcupines and other large mammals as well as those dug by gerbil colonies Compared to burrows constructed by Arctic foxes badgers marmots and corsac foxes red fox dens are not overly complex Red fox burrows are divided into a den and temporary burrows which consist only of a small passage or cave for concealment The main entrance of the burrow leads downwards 40 45 and broadens into a den from which numerous side tunnels branch Burrow depth ranges from 0 5 2 5 m 1 ft 8 in 8 ft 2 in rarely extending to ground water The main passage can reach 17 m 56 ft in length standing an average of 5 7 m 16 23 ft In spring red foxes clear their dens of excess soil through rapid movements first with the forepaws then with kicking motions with their hind legs throwing the discarded soil over 2 m 6 ft 7 in from the burrow When kits are born the discarded debris is trampled thus forming a spot where the kits can play and receive food 6 They may share their dens with woodchucks 9 or badgers 6 Unlike badgers which fastidiously clean their earths and defecate in latrines red foxes habitually leave pieces of prey around their dens 28 15 17 The average sleep time of a captive red fox is 9 8 hours per day 69 Communication editBody language edit nbsp A European fox V v crucigera in an inquisitive postureRed fox body language consists of movements of the ears tail and postures with their body markings emphasising certain gestures Postures can be divided into aggressive dominant and fearful submissive categories Some postures may blend the two together 45 42 43 Inquisitive foxes will rotate and flick their ears whilst sniffing Playful individuals will perk their ears and rise on their hind legs Male foxes courting females or after successfully evicting intruders will turn their ears outwardly and raise their tails in a horizontal position with the tips raised upward When afraid red foxes grin in submission arching their backs curving their bodies crouching their legs and lashing their tails back and forth with their ears pointing backwards and pressed against their skulls When merely expressing submission to a dominant animal the posture is similar but without arching the back or curving the body Submissive foxes will approach dominant animals in a low posture so that their muzzles reach up in greeting When two evenly matched foxes confront each other over food they approach each other sideways and push against each other s flanks betraying a mixture of fear and aggression through lashing tails and arched backs without crouching and pulling their ears back without flattening them against their skulls When launching an assertive attack red foxes approach directly rather than sideways with their tails aloft and their ears rotated sideways 45 During such fights red foxes will stand on each other s upper bodies with their forelegs using open mouthed threats Such fights typically only occur among juveniles or adults of the same sex 8 Vocalisations edit nbsp A pair of Wasatch Mountains foxes V v macroura squabbling nbsp Red fox barks recorded in Gloucestershire England January 1977 source source track track Problems playing this file See media help Red foxes have a wide vocal range and produce different sounds spanning five octaves which grade into each other 45 28 Recent analyses identify 12 different sounds produced by adults and 8 by kits 8 The majority of sounds can be divided into contact and interaction calls The former vary according to the distance between individuals while the latter vary according to the level of aggression 45 28 Contact calls The most commonly heard contact call is a three to five syllable barking wow wow wow sound which is often made by two foxes approaching one another This call is most frequently heard from December to February when they can be confused with the territorial calls of tawny owls The wow wow wow call varies according to individual captive foxes have been recorded to answer pre recorded calls of their pen mates but not those of strangers Kits begin emitting the wow wow wow call at the age of 19 days when craving attention When red foxes draw close together they emit trisyllabic greeting warbles similar to the clucking of chickens Adults greet their kits with gruff huffing noises 45 28 Interaction calls When greeting one another red foxes emit high pitched whines particularly submissive animals A submissive fox approached by a dominant animal will emit a ululating siren like shriek During aggressive encounters with conspecifics they emit a throaty rattling sound similar to a ratchet called gekkering Gekkering occurs mostly during the courting season from rival males or vixens rejecting advances 45 28 Another call that does not fit into the two categories is a long drawn out monosyllabic waaaaah sound As it is commonly heard during the breeding season it is thought to be emitted by vixens summoning males When danger is detected foxes emit a monosyllabic bark At close quarters it is a muffled cough while at long distances it is sharper Kits make warbling whimpers when nursing these calls being especially loud when they are dissatisfied 45 28 Ecology editDiet hunting and feeding behaviour edit nbsp A red fox with a coypuRed foxes are omnivores with a highly varied diet 70 71 Research conducted in the former Soviet Union showed red foxes consuming over 300 animal species and a few dozen species of plants 6 They primarily feed on small rodents like voles mice ground squirrels hamsters gerbils woodchucks pocket gophers and deer mice 6 9 Secondary prey species include birds with Passeriformes Galliformes and waterfowl predominating leporids porcupines raccoons opossums reptiles insects other invertebrates flotsam marine mammals fish and echinoderms and carrion 6 9 72 On very rare occasions foxes may attack young or small ungulates 6 They typically target mammals up to about 3 5 kg 7 7 lb in weight and they require 500 g 18 oz of food daily 43 Red foxes readily eat plant material and in some areas fruit can amount to 100 of their diet in autumn Commonly consumed fruits include blueberries blackberries raspberries cherries persimmons mulberries apples plums grapes and acorns Other plant material includes grasses sedges and tubers 9 Red foxes are implicated in the predation of game and song birds hares rabbits muskrats and young ungulates particularly in preserves reserves and hunting farms where ground nesting birds are protected and raised as well as in poultry farms 6 While the popular consensus is that olfaction is very important for hunting 73 two studies that experimentally investigated the role of olfactory auditory and visual cues found that visual cues are the most important ones for hunting in red foxes 74 and coyotes 75 76 Red foxes prefer to hunt in the early morning hours before sunrise and late evening 6 Although they typically forage alone they may aggregate in resource rich environments 68 When hunting mouse like prey they first pinpoint their prey s location by sound then leap sailing high above their quarry steering in mid air with their tails before landing on target up to 5 m 16 ft away 1 They typically only feed on carrion in the late evening hours and at night 6 They are extremely possessive of their food and will defend their catches from even dominant animals 45 58 Red foxes may occasionally commit acts of surplus killing during one breeding season four red foxes were recorded to have killed around 200 black headed gulls each with peaks during dark windy hours when flying conditions were unfavourable Losses to poultry and penned game birds can be substantial because of this 8 45 164 Red foxes seem to dislike the taste of moles but will nonetheless catch them alive and present them to their kits as playthings 45 41 A 2008 2010 study of 84 red foxes in the Czech Republic and Germany found that successful hunting in long vegetation or under snow appeared to involve an alignment of the red fox with the Earth s magnetic field 77 78 Enemies and competitors edit nbsp A red fox confronting a grey foxRed foxes typically dominate other fox species Arctic foxes generally escape competition from red foxes by living farther north where food is too scarce to support the larger bodied red species Although the red species northern limit is linked to the availability of food the Arctic species southern range is limited by the presence of the former Red and Arctic foxes were both introduced to almost every island from the Aleutian Islands to the Alexander Archipelago during the 1830s 1930s by fur companies The red foxes invariably displaced the Arctic foxes with one male red fox having been reported to have killed off all resident Arctic foxes on a small island in 1866 45 Where they are sympatric Arctic foxes may also escape competition by feeding on lemmings and flotsam rather than voles as favoured by red foxes Both species will kill each other s kits given the opportunity 6 Red foxes are serious competitors of corsac foxes as they hunt the same prey all year The red species is also stronger is better adapted to hunting in snow deeper than 10 cm 3 9 in and is more effective in hunting and catching medium sized to large rodents Corsac foxes seem to only outcompete red foxes in semi desert and steppe areas 6 79 In Israel Blanford s foxes escape competition with red foxes by restricting themselves to rocky cliffs and actively avoiding the open plains inhabited by red foxes 45 84 85 Red foxes dominate kit and swift foxes Kit foxes usually avoid competition with their larger cousins by living in more arid environments though red foxes have been increasing in ranges formerly occupied by kit foxes due to human induced environmental changes Red foxes will kill both species and compete with them for food and den sites 9 Grey foxes are exceptional as they dominate red foxes wherever their ranges meet Historically interactions between the two species were rare as grey foxes favoured heavily wooded or semiarid habitats as opposed to the open and mesic ones preferred by red foxes However interactions have become more frequent due to deforestation allowing red foxes to colonise grey fox inhabited areas 9 Wolves may kill and eat red foxes in disputes over carcasses 6 80 In areas in North America where red fox and coyote populations are sympatric red fox ranges tend to be located outside coyote territories The principal cause of this separation is believed to be active avoidance of coyotes by the red foxes Interactions between the two species vary in nature ranging from active antagonism to indifference The majority of aggressive encounters are initiated by coyotes and there are few reports of red foxes acting aggressively toward coyotes except when attacked or when their kits were approached Foxes and coyotes have sometimes been seen feeding together 81 In Israel red foxes share their habitat with golden jackals Where their ranges meet the two canids compete due to near identical diets Red foxes ignore golden jackal scents or tracks in their territories and avoid close physical proximity with golden jackals themselves In areas where golden jackals become very abundant the population of red foxes decreases significantly apparently because of competitive exclusion 82 nbsp A golden eagle feeding on a red fox nbsp A red fox challenging two Eurasian badgersRed foxes dominate raccoon dogs sometimes killing their kits or biting adults to death Cases are known of red foxes killing raccoon dogs after entering their dens Both species compete for mouse like prey This competition reaches a peak during early spring when food is scarce In Tatarstan red fox predation accounted for 11 1 of deaths among 54 raccoon dogs and amounted to 14 3 of 186 raccoon dog deaths in northwestern Russia 6 Red foxes may kill small mustelids like weasels 9 stone martens 83 pine martens martes martes stoats siberian weasels polecats and young sables Eurasian badgers may live alongside red foxes in isolated sections of large burrows 6 It is possible that the two species tolerate each other out of mutualism red foxes provide Eurasian badgers with food scraps while Eurasian badgers maintain the shared burrow s cleanliness 28 15 However cases are known of Eurasian badgers driving vixens from their dens and destroying their litters without eating them 84 Wolverines may kill red foxes often while the latter is sleeping or near carrion 6 546 Red foxes in turn may kill young wolverines 85 Red foxes may compete with striped hyenas on large carcasses Red foxes may give way to striped hyenas on unopened carcasses as the latter s stronger jaws can easily tear open flesh that is too tough for red foxes Red foxes may harass striped hyenas using their smaller size and greater speed to avoid the hyena s attacks Sometimes red foxes seem to deliberately torment striped hyenas even when there is no food at stake Some red foxes may mis time their attacks and are killed 45 77 79 Red fox remains are often found in striped hyena dens and striped hyenas may steal red foxes from traps 6 In Eurasia red foxes may be preyed upon by leopards caracals and Eurasian lynxes The Eurasian lynxes chase red foxes into deep snow where their long legs and larger paws give them an advantage over red foxes especially when the depth of the snow exceeds one meter 6 In the Velikoluksky District in Russia red foxes are absent or are seen only occasionally where Eurasian lynxes establish permanent territories 6 Researchers consider Eurasian lynxes to represent considerably less danger to red foxes than wolves do 6 North American felid predators of red foxes include cougars Canada lynxes and bobcats 42 Red foxes compete with various birds of prey such as common buzzards Buteo buteo and northern goshawks Accipiter gentilis and even steal their kills 86 87 In turn golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos regularly takes young red foxes and prey on adults if needed 88 89 Other large eagles such as wedge tailed eagles Aquila audax eastern imperial eagles Aquila heliaca white tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla and steller s sea eagles Haliaeetus pelagicus have also been known to kill red foxes less frequently 90 91 92 93 94 Additionally large owls such as Eurasian eagle owls Bubo bubo and snowy owls Bubo scandiacus will prey on young foxes and adults on exceptional occasions 95 96 97 Diseases and parasites edit nbsp A European fox V v crucigera with mangeRed foxes are the most important rabies vector in Europe In London arthritis is common in foxes being particularly frequent in the spine 8 Foxes may be infected with leptospirosis and tularemia though they are not overly susceptible to the latter They may also fall ill from listeriosis and spirochetosis as well as acting as vectors in spreading erysipelas brucellosis and tick borne encephalitis A mysterious fatal disease near Lake Sartlan in the Novosibirsk Oblast was noted among local red foxes but the cause was undetermined The possibility was considered that it was caused by an acute form of encephalomyelitis which was first observed in captive bred silver foxes Individual cases of foxes infected with Yersinia pestis are known 6 Red foxes are not readily prone to infestation with fleas Species like Spilopsyllus cuniculi are probably only caught from the fox s prey species while others like Archaeopsylla erinacei are caught whilst traveling Fleas that feed on red foxes include Pulex irritans Ctenocephalides canis and Paraceras melis Ticks such as Ixodes ricinus and I hexagonus are not uncommon in red foxes and are typically found on nursing vixens and kits still in their earths The louse Trichodectes vulpis specifically targets red foxes but is found infrequently The mite Sarcoptes scabiei is the most important cause of mange in red foxes It causes extensive hair loss starting from the base of the tail and hindfeet then the rump before moving on to the rest of the body In the final stages of the condition red foxes can lose most of their fur 50 of their body weight and may gnaw at infected extremities In the epizootic phase of the disease it usually takes red foxes four months to die after infection Other endoparasites include Demodex folliculorum Notoderes Otodectes cynotis which is frequently found in the ear canal Linguatula serrata which infects the nasal passages and ringworms 6 Up to 60 helminth species are known to infect captive bred foxes in fur farms while 20 are known in the wild Several coccidian species of the genera Isospora and Eimeria are also known to infect them 6 The most common nematode species found in red fox guts are Toxocara canis and Uncinaria stenocephala Capillaria aerophila 98 and Crenosoma vulpis the latter two infect their lungs and trachea 99 Capillaria plica infects the red fox s bladder Trichinella spiralis rarely affects them The most common tapeworm species in red foxes are Taenia spiralis and T pisiformis Others include Echinococcus granulosus and E multilocularis Eleven trematode species infect red foxes 8 including Metorchis conjunctus 100 A red fox from was found to be a host of intestinal parasitic acanthocephalan worms Pachysentis canicola in Bushehr Province Iran 101 Pachysentis procumbens and Pachysentis ehrenbergi in both in Egypt 102 Relationships with humans editIn folklore religion and mythology edit Further information Foxes in culture nbsp Reynard the Fox in an 1869 children s bookRed foxes feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric In Greek mythology the Teumessian fox 103 or Cadmean vixen was a gigantic fox that was destined never to be caught The fox was one of the children of Echidna 104 In Celtic mythology the red fox is a symbolic animal In the Cotswolds witches were thought to take the shape of foxes to steal butter from their neighbours 105 In later European folklore the figure of Reynard the Fox symbolises trickery and deceit He originally appeared then under the name of Reinardus as a secondary character in the 1150 poem Ysengrimus He reappeared in 1175 in Pierre Saint Cloud s Le Roman de Renart and made his debut in England in Geoffrey Chaucer s The Nun s Priest s Tale Many of Reynard s adventures may stem from actual observations on fox behaviour he is an enemy of the wolf and has a fondness for blackberries and grapes 45 32 33 Chinese folk tales tell of fox spirits called huli jing that may have up to nine tails or kumiho as they are known in Korea 106 In Japanese mythology the kitsune are fox like spirits possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others other stories portray them as faithful guardians friends lovers and wives 107 In Arab folklore the fox is considered a cowardly weak deceitful and cunning animal said to feign death by filling its abdomen with air to appear bloated then lies on its side awaiting the approach of unwitting prey 39 The animal s cunning was noted by the authors of the Bible who applied the word fox to false prophets Ezekiel 13 4 and the hypocrisy of Herod Antipas Luke 13 32 108 The cunning Fox is commonly found in Native American mythology where it is portrayed as an almost constant companion to Coyote Fox however is a deceitful companion that often steals Coyote s food In the Achomawi creation myth Fox and Coyote are the co creators of the world that leave just before the arrival of humans The Yurok tribe believed that Fox in anger captured the Sun and tied him to a hill causing him to burn a great hole in the ground An Inuit story tells of how Fox portrayed as a beautiful woman tricks a hunter into marrying her only to resume her true form and leave after he offends her A Menominee story tells of how Fox is an untrustworthy friend to Wolf 109 Hunting edit Further information Fox hunting nbsp Beagle and Fox 1885 by Bruno LiljeforsThe earliest historical records of fox hunting come from the 4th century BC Alexander the Great is known to have hunted foxes and a seal dated from 350 BC depicts a Persian horseman in the process of spearing a fox Xenophon who viewed hunting as part of a cultured man s education advocated the killing of foxes as pests as they distracted hounds from hares The Romans were hunting foxes by AD 80 During the Dark Ages in Europe foxes were considered secondary quarries but gradually grew in importance Cnut the Great re classed foxes as Beasts of the Chase a lower category of quarry than Beasts of Venery Foxes were gradually hunted less as vermin and more as Beasts of the Chase to the point that by the late 1200s Edward I had a royal pack of foxhounds and a specialised fox huntsman In this period foxes were increasingly hunted above ground with hounds rather than underground with terriers Edward Second Duke of York assisted the climb of foxes as more prestigious quarries in his The Master of Game By the Renaissance fox hunting became a traditional sport of the nobility After the English Civil War caused a drop in deer populations fox hunting grew in popularity By the mid 1600s Great Britain was divided into fox hunting territories with the first fox hunting clubs being formed the first was the Charlton Hunt Club in 1737 The popularity of fox hunting in Great Britain reached a peak during the 1700s 45 21 Although already native to North America red foxes from England were imported for sporting purposes to Virginia and Maryland in 1730 by prosperous tobacco planters 110 These American fox hunters considered the red fox more sporting than the grey fox 110 The grays furnished more fun the reds more excitement The grays did not run so far but usually kept near home going in a circuit of six or eight miles An old red generally so called irrespective of age as a tribute to his prowess might lead the dogs all day and end by losing them as evening fell after taking them a dead stretch for thirty miles The capture of a gray was what men boasted of a chase after an old red was what they yarned about 110 Red foxes are still widely persecuted as pests with human caused deaths among the highest causes of mortality in the species Annual red fox kills are UK 21 500 25 000 2000 Germany 600 000 2000 2001 Austria 58 000 2000 2001 Sweden 58 000 1999 2000 Finland 56 000 2000 2001 Denmark 50 000 1976 1977 Switzerland 34 832 2001 Norway 17 000 2000 2001 Saskatchewan Canada 2 000 2000 2001 Nova Scotia Canada 491 2000 2001 Minnesota US 4 000 8 000 average annual trapping harvest 2002 2009 111 New Mexico US 69 1999 2000 83 Fur use edit nbsp Red fox pelts nbsp A red fox in a fur farm in Vora FinlandRed foxes are among the most important fur bearing animals harvested by the fur trade Their pelts are used for trimmings scarfs muffs jackets and coats They are principally used as trimming for both cloth coats and fur garments including evening wraps 12 229 230 The pelts of silver foxes are popular as capes 12 246 while cross foxes are mostly used for scarves and rarely for trimming 12 252 The number of sold fox scarves exceeds the total number of scarves made from other fur bearers However this amount is overshadowed by the total number of red fox pelts used for trimming purposes 12 229 230 The silver colour morphs are the most valued by furriers followed by the cross colour morphs and the red colour morphs respectively 28 207 In the early 1900s over 1 000 American red fox skins were imported to Great Britain annually while 500 000 were exported annually from Germany and Russia 28 6 The total worldwide trade of wild red foxes in 1985 86 was 1 543 995 pelts Red foxes amounted to 45 of U S wild caught pelts worth 50 million 83 Pelt prices are increasing with 2012 North American wholesale auction prices averaging 39 and 2013 prices averaging 65 78 112 North American red foxes particularly those of northern Alaska are the most valued for their fur as they have guard hairs of a silky texture which after dressing allow the wearer unrestricted mobility Red foxes living in southern Alaska s coastal areas and the Aleutian Islands are an exception as they have extremely coarse pelts that rarely exceed one third of the price of their northern Alaskan cousins 12 231 Most European peltries have coarse textured fur compared to North American varieties The only exceptions are the Nordic and Far Eastern Russian peltries but they are still inferior to North American peltries in terms of silkiness 12 235 Livestock and pet predation edit nbsp A carcass of a lamb near a red fox den nbsp A red fox in a Birmingham garden investigating a rabbit hutchRed foxes may on occasion prey on lambs Usually lambs targeted by red foxes tend to be physically weakened specimens but not always Lambs belonging to small breeds such as the Scottish Blackface are more vulnerable than larger breeds such as the Merino Twins may be more vulnerable to red foxes than singlets as ewes cannot effectively defend both simultaneously Crossbreeding small upland ewes with larger lowland rams can cause difficult and prolonged labour for ewes due to the heaviness of the resulting offspring thus making the lambs more at risk to red fox predation Lambs born from gimmers ewes breeding for the first time are more often killed by red foxes than those of experienced mothers who stick closer to their young 45 166 167 Red foxes may prey on domestic rabbits and guinea pigs if they are kept in open runs or are allowed to range freely in gardens This problem is usually averted by housing them in robust hutches and runs Urban red foxes frequently encounter cats and may feed alongside them In physical confrontations the cats usually have the upper hand Authenticated cases of red foxes killing cats usually involve kittens Although most red foxes do not prey on cats some may do so and may treat them more as competitors rather than food 45 180 181 Taming and domestication edit Further information Domesticated silver fox nbsp A young boy holding a tame red fox kitIn their unmodified wild state red foxes are generally unsuitable as pets 113 Many supposedly abandoned kits are adopted by well meaning people during the spring period though it is unlikely that vixens would abandon their young Actual orphans are rare and the ones that are adopted are likely kits that simply strayed from their den sites 114 Kits require almost constant supervision when still suckling they require milk at four hour intervals day and night Once weaned they may become destructive to leather objects furniture and electric cables 45 56 Though generally friendly toward people when young captive red foxes become fearful of humans save for their handlers once they reach 10 weeks of age 45 61 They maintain their wild counterparts strong instinct of concealment and may pose a threat to domestic birds even when well fed 28 122 Although suspicious of strangers they can form bonds with cats and dogs even ones bred for fox hunting Tame red foxes were once used to draw ducks close to hunting blinds 28 132 133 White to black individual red foxes have been selected and raised on fur farms as silver foxes In the second half of the 20th century a lineage of domesticated silver foxes was developed by Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyayev who over a 40 year period bred several generations selecting only those individuals that showed the least fear of humans Eventually Belyayev s team selected only those that showed the most positive response to humans thus resulting in a population of silver foxes whose behaviour and appearance was significantly changed After about 10 generations of controlled breeding these foxes no longer showed any fear of humans and often wagged their tails and licked their human caretakers to show affection These behavioural changes were accompanied by physical alterations which included piebald coats floppy ears in kits and curled tails similar to the traits that distinguish domestic dogs from grey wolves 115 Urban red foxes edit Distribution edit Red foxes have been exceedingly successful in colonising built up environments especially lower density suburbs 43 although many have also been sighted in dense urban areas far from the countryside Throughout the 20th century they have established themselves in many Australian European Japanese and North American cities The species first colonised British cities during the 1930s entering Bristol and London during the 1940s and later established themselves in Cambridge and Norwich In Ireland they are now common in suburban Dublin In Australia red foxes were recorded in Melbourne as early as the 1930s while in Zurich Switzerland they only started appearing in the 1980s 116 Urban red foxes are most common in residential suburbs consisting of privately owned low density housing They are rare in areas where industry commerce or council rented houses predominate 43 In these latter areas the distribution is of a lower average density because they rely less on human resources the home range of these foxes average from 80 90 ha 0 80 0 90 km2 200 220 acres whereas those in more residential areas average from 25 40 ha 0 25 0 40 km2 62 99 acres 117 In 2006 it was estimated that there were 10 000 red foxes in London 118 City dwelling red foxes may have the potential to consistently grow larger than their rural counterparts as a result of abundant scraps and a relative lack of predators In cities red foxes may scavenge food from litter bins and bin bags although much of their diet is similar to rural red foxes citation needed Behaviour edit Urban red foxes are most active at dusk and dawn doing most of their hunting and scavenging at these times It is uncommon to spot them during the day but they can be caught sunbathing on roofs of houses or sheds Urban red foxes will often make their homes in hidden and undisturbed spots in urban areas as well as on the edges of a city visiting at night for sustenance They sleep at night in dens While urban red foxes will scavenge successfully in the city and the red foxes tend to eat anything that humans eat some urban residents will deliberately leave food out for the animals finding them endearing Doing this regularly can attract urban red foxes to one s home they can become accustomed to human presence warming up to their providers by allowing themselves to be approached and in some cases even played with particularly young kits 117 Urban red fox control edit Urban red foxes can cause problems for local residents They have been known to steal chickens disrupt rubbish bins and damage gardens Most complaints about urban red foxes made to local authorities occur during the breeding season in late January early February or from late April to August when the new kits are developing 117 In the U K hunting red foxes in urban areas is banned and shooting them in an urban environment is not suitable One alternative to hunting urban red foxes has been to trap them which appears to be a more viable method 119 However killing red foxes has little effect on the population in an urban area those that are killed are very soon replaced either by new kits during the breeding season or by other red foxes moving into the territory of those that were killed A more effective method of urban red fox control is to deter them from the specific areas they inhabit Deterrents such as creosote diesel oil or ammonia can be used Cleaning up and blocking access to den locations can also discourage an urban red fox s return 117 Relationship between urban and rural red foxes edit In January 2014 it was reported that Fleet a relatively tame urban red fox tracked as part of a wider study by the University of Brighton in partnership with the BBC TV series Winterwatch had unexpectedly traveled 195 miles in 21 days from his neighbourhood in Hove at the western edge of East Sussex across rural countryside as far as Rye at the eastern edge of the county He was still continuing his journey when the GPS collar stopped transmitting due to suspected water damage Along with setting a record for the longest journey undertaken by a tracked red fox in the United Kingdom his travels have highlighted the fluidity of movement between rural and urban red fox populations 120 121 nbsp An urban red fox crossing a street nbsp An urban red fox in central London nbsp An urban red fox eating from a bag of biscuits in Dorset England nbsp Fleet the urban red fox from the BBC TV series Winterwatch source source source source source source source source An urban red fox with a discarded KFC bagReferences edit a b c d Hoffmann M amp Sillero Zubiri C 2021 amended version of 2016 assessment Vulpes vulpes IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e 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Species of Pachysentis Meyer 1931 Acanthocephala Oligacanthorhynchidae in the Brown Nosed Coati Nasua nasua Carnivora Procyonidae from Brazil with Notes on the Genus and a Key to Species Acta Parasitologica 64 3 587 595 doi 10 2478 s11686 019 00080 6 PMC 6814649 PMID 31286360 Ancient Greek Teymhs s ia ἀlwph3 Teumes s ia alopex gen Teymhsias ἀlwpekos also known as ἀlwph3 tῆs Teymhssoῦ fox of Teumessos Teumessos was an ancient city in Boeotia Wallen Martin 2006 Fox Reaktion Books p 40 ISBN 978 1 86189 297 3 Monaghan Patricia 2004 The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore Infobase Publishing pp 199 200 ISBN 978 0 8160 4524 2 Goff Janet 1997 Foxes in Japanese culture Beautiful or beastly PDF Japan Quarterly 44 2 Archived from the original PDF on 21 September 2013 Retrieved 28 July 2012 Smyers Karen Ann 1999 The Fox and the Jewel Shared and Private Meanings in Contemporary Japanese Inari Worship University of Hawaii Press ISBN 978 0 8248 2102 9 Bright Michael 2006 Beasts of the Field The Revealing Natural History of Animals in the Bible London Robson Books pp 120 127 ISBN 978 1 86105 831 7 Bastian Dawn Elaine amp Mitchell Judy K 2004 Handbook of Native American Mythology ABC CLIO pp 99 100 ISBN 978 1 85109 533 9 a b c Potts Allen 1912 Fox Hunting in America Washington The Carnahan Press pp 7 38 Retrieved 9 July 2016 Dexter Margaret 8 December 2009 Trapping Harvest Statistics PDF Minnesota Department of Natural Resources p 282 Table 5 Archived PDF from the original on 25 August 2014 Retrieved 21 December 2014 NAFA February 2013 Fur Auction Results Trapping Today 22 February 2013 Archived from the original on 26 June 2013 Retrieved 9 July 2013 Jones Lucy 7 May 2016 Why we love keeping foxes at home despite the smell The Telegraph Archived from the original on 11 January 2022 Retrieved 10 September 2016 Karim Fariha 8 September 2016 Why having Mr Fox to stay is not such a fantastic idea after all The Times Archived from the original on 8 September 2016 Retrieved 10 September 2016 Trut Lyudmila N 1999 Early canid domestication The farm fox experiment PDF American Scientist 87 2 160 169 Bibcode 1999AmSci 87 T doi 10 1511 1999 20 813 S2CID 120981396 Archived from the original PDF on 15 February 2010 Urban foxes Overview The fox website Archived from the original on 16 September 2013 Retrieved 20 September 2013 a b c d Harris Stephen 1986 Urban Foxes London Whittet Books ISBN 978 0905483474 10 000 Foxes Roam London National Geographic 28 October 2010 Archived from the original on 8 September 2006 Retrieved 20 September 2013 Fieldsports Britain How to call in great big bucks Fieldsports Channel 24 October 2012 Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 BBC Two Winterwatch Urban Fox Diary Part 2 BBC 23 January 2014 Archived from the original on 9 December 2018 Retrieved 10 September 2016 Fleet the Sussex fox breaks British walking record BBC 22 January 2014 Archived from the original on 15 September 2019 Retrieved 10 September 2016 Further reading editOsborn Dale J amp Helmy Ibrahim 1980 The contemporary land mammals of Egypt including Sinai Fieldiana New Series Field Museum of Natural History 5 Sillero Zubiri Claudio Hoffman Michael amp MacDonald David W 2004 Canids Foxes Wolves Jackals and Dogs 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group ISBN 978 2 8317 0786 0 Archived from the original on 6 October 2011 Spagnesi Mario amp De Marina Marinis Maria 2002 Mammiferi d Italia Quaderni di Conservazione della Natura ISSN 1592 2901 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to the red fox nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Red fox nbsp Look up Fox in Wiktionary the free dictionary Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus 1758 Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 18 March 2006 Red Fox National Geographic Natural History of the Red Fox Wildlife Online Sacramento Valley red fox info1 Red Fox Fletcher Wildlife Garden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Red fox amp oldid 1196394967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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