Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Fox
• Silver fox
• Cross fox
• Renard (French)
• Renard roux (French)
• Rotfuchs (German)
• Vulpes fulva (B51)

Alternative species names (the second part of the binomial species names): [Genus] abietorum; [Genus] acaab; [Genus] aegyptiacus; [Genus] alascensis; [Genus] alba; [Genus] algeriensis; [Genus] alopex; [Genus] alpherakyi; [Genus] alticola; [Genus] anadyrensis; [Genus] anatolica; [Genus] anubis; [Genus] arabica; [Genus] atlantica; [Genus] aurantioluteus; [Genus] bangsi; [Genus] barbarus; [Genus] beringiana; [Genus] cascadensis; [Genus] caucasica; [Genus] cinera; [Genus] communis; [Genus] crucigera; [Genus] daurica; [Genus] deletrix; [Genus] dolichocrania; [Genus] dorsalis; [Genus] eckloni; [Genus] flavescens; [Genus] fulvus; [Genus] griffithii; [Genus] harrimani; [Genus] himalaicus; [Genus] hoole; [Genus] huli; [Genus] hypomelas; [Genus] ichnusae; [Genus] indutus; [Genus] jakutensis; [Genus] japonica; [Genus] kamtschadensis; [Genus] karagan; [Genus] kenaiensis; [Genus] kiyomasai; [Genus] krimeamontana; [Genus] kurdistanica; [Genus] ladacensis; [Genus] leucopus; [Genus] lineatus; [Genus] lineiventer; [Genus] lutea; [Genus] macrourus; [Genus] melanogaster; [Genus] melanotus; [Genus] meridionalis; [Genus] montana; [Genus] necator; [Genus] nepalensis; [Genus] nigra; [Genus] nigro-argenteus; [Genus] nigrocaudatus; [Genus] niloticus; [Genus] ochroxantha; [Genus] palaestina; [Genus] peculiosa; [Genus] pennsylvanicus; [Genus] persicus; [Genus] pusilla; [Genus] regalis; [Genus] rubricosa; [Genus] schrencki; [Genus] silaceus; [Genus] sitkaensis; [Genus] splendens; [Genus] splendissima; [Genus] stepensis; [Genus] tobolica; [Genus] tschiliensis; [Genus] ussuriensis; [Genus] vafra; [Genus] variagatus; [Genus] vulgaris; [Genus] vulpecula; [Genus] waddelli; (B141).

Names for new-borns / juveniles

Names for males

Names for females

General Appearance

Similar Species

Sexual Dimorphism

References

Species Author

Major References

Husbandry references:

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• The Mammal Society
• Mammals Trust
• The Fox Project
• Humane urban wildlife deterrence
• National Fox Welfare Society
•  

• British Mammal Factsheets
• ORPHANED FOXES

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Canidae

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Canidae

Husbandry Information

Notes

• Accommodation of Casualty Vulpes vulpes - Red Fox
• Hand-rearing Vulpes vulpes - Red fox
• Catching and Handling of Vulpes vulpes - Red Fox
• Feeding of Casualty Vulpes vulpes - Red Fox
• Release of Casualty Vulpes vulpes - Red Fox

Measurement & Weight

• Head-body length: Males 68cm, females 66cm (B52);1.6-3ft/ 50-90cm (B144); 45.5-90cm (B147); up to 80cm (B148); British range males 540-777mm, females 560-744mm (B142).
• Tail length: Males 44cm, females 42cm (B52);12-20in./30-50cm (B144) 30-55cm (B147); 40cm (B148); British range males 222-493mm, females 277-491mm (B142).

Head

• Skull: Generally dog-like, but narrower, with canine teeth prominent and sharply pointed. Usually prominent sagittal crest in males (B142).
• Nose: Muzzle long and slender (B142, B147, B148).
• Ears: Erect, pointed, black (B142, B147, B148).

Legs and Tracks

• Digitigrade.
• Hind foot four digits, fore foot five digits.
• Blunt unretractable claws.
• Forefoot 5cm long by 3-4cm wide, hindfoot smaller and narrower.

(B147, B148).

Tail

Coat / Pelage

• Dorsal: Pale sandy/yellowish red or yellowish grey-red to deep reddish brown or henna, also described as rust or flame-red (B52, B142, B147, B148). Eye to muzzle black stripe, lips and nose dark brown (B142).
• Ventral: including muzzle white, pale ashy grey or darker slaty grey to black (B52, B142, B147, B148).
• Distal legs: usually black (B142, B147, B148).
• Tail: has patch on dorsal surface near base (supracaudal gland) black, tip often white or black (B52, B142, B147).
• Ears: black (B147, B148).
• Caudal scent gland: black patch (B142).

• Abdomen: may become pinkish March-April, particularly in vixens. May be brick-red during lactation (B142).
• Scrotum: cream (B142).

Colour variations:

• "Cross fox": reddish brown with dark dorsal stripe down back and second stripe across shoulders (B147). Mainly seen in North America, very rare in Britain (B142).
• "Silver fox": variable strong silver to nearly black (B147). Mainly seen in North America, very rare in Britain (B142).
• Melanic black fox also found in North America, very rare in Britain (B142, B147).
• White: with normal eyes, rare (B142).
• Albino: rare (B142).

Coat variation:

• Samson or woolly: Coat lacks guard hairs, either totally or partially e.g. on tail (B142).

Neonate (New-born) Characteristics

Detailed Anatomy Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

• Reproductive: Scrotal testes (B142). Vulva at oestrus swollen and often pinkish. Usually four pairs of nipples but variable (B142).
• Scent glands - anal glands, glands between toes, supracaudal gland on dorsal surface of tail near base, marked by patch of black hair (B52, B142).

Natural Diet

• Small mammals, birds, insects, earthworms, carrion, fruit, berries.
• Earthworms important food item - may provide 60% of calorie intake in some months (B142).
• Deer and sheep carcasses may be important in winter in upland areas in Britain.
• Lagomorphs, wood mice and field voles preferred mammals.
• Fruit includes blackberries, windfall apples, pears, plums.
• Birds including hen partridges while brooding, other game birds such as pheasants, domestic poultry. Also e.g. gulls and terns at nesting colonies, and other birds.
• Daily consumption about 0.5-1.5kg (B147); estimated food requirement 121kcal (507 kJ) per kg body weight for captive foxes (B142).
• Pups 13-14 weeks old estimated 223kcal (934 kJ) per kg body weight (B142).

(B52, B142, B144, B147, B148)

Detailed Physiology Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

• Often deposited on prominent object.
• Black when fresh, with characteristic odour.
• Usually pointed if contain much fur or feathers, may be linked together by hairs.
• Vary according to diet.

(B143).

Feeding Behaviour

• Pounce on mice, leaping up and bringing forelegs straight down on prey (B147).
• Catch rabbits by combination of stalk and rapid dash (B147).
• Scavenging important in many habitats (B142).
• Cache excess food by digging hole and burying.

(B52, B142, B147).

Parental Behaviour

• Cubs cared for by female.
• Initially (about first three weeks) female remains in den, later lies up near den but above ground, returning to feed cubs.
• Male brings food to den.
• Non-breeding females may assist with cubs - seen definitely in captivity.
• Move cubs to different den if any disturbance form humans or dogs.
• Male occasionally recorded in earth with cubs, usually but not always with one or more vixens also present.

(B52, B142, B147)

Social Behaviour / Territoriality

• Social systems are variable and adapted to habitat type.
• Territorial with little overlap of home ranges (B147)
• Largest in winter, smallest when new-born cubs are present (B147).
• Live in family groups sharing joint territory: adult male, one or two adult females and their offspring sharing home range.
• Female cubs may remain on parental territory, particularly where habitat favourable (B142).
• Usually only one female in family group breeds, but occasionally more than one: in such cases litters may be found mixed in one den for short or longer time.
• Forage separately.
• Territory size varies greatly depending on habitat type and food availability.
• Home range may be 5-12 square km in good habitat, 20-50 square km in poor habitat (B147).
• Territory may be as small as 20 hectares in urban areas and as large as 4000 hectares in hill areas (B142).
• In very favourable habitat territories do not decrease further in size but overlap between home ranges increases.
• Scent mark territory with urine and faeces.
• Dispersal mainly at 6-12 months old (B142).

(B52, B142, B144, B147)

Sexual Behaviour

• Mainly monogamous (B142).
• Partnership female and male, although female may mate with several males before partnering with one (B147).

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• Generally terrestrial, usually moves by walking/trotting.
• Can gallop for long distances (many kilometres) and can reach 48km/hr.
• Able to jump up to 2m.
• Able to swim well.
• Use pathways between dens, other resting sites, food stores, favourite hunting areas.
• Move up to 8km per night.

(B142, B147).

Reduced activity on cold wet nights (B142).

• Mainly nocturnal and crepuscular.
• Activity more likely to continue after dawn in summer, particularly in vixen feeding young cubs.

(B142, B144, B147).

General Habitat Type

• Wide range, from deep forest to Arctic tundra, open prairie, grasslands, farmland, sand dunes.
• Also urban and suburban areas.
• Prefer fragmentary/diverse vegetation pattern rather than large areas of homogenous vegetation.

(B51, B52, B142, B143, B144, B147)

• From sea level to 4,500m (B147); Up to 3000m (B143).

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

• Large den in ground which may have one or a large number of entrances.
• Tunnels up to 10m long and chamber 1-3m below surface.
• Preferred site loose soil on sheltered well-drained slope.
• Larger den may be constructed for rearing pups.
• Sometimes share badger sett, or take over disused badger sett, also enlarge rabbit warrens.
• In urban areas often make earths under sheds or other buildings.
• Also have one or more emergency burrows.
• Often rest in protected spots such as dense cover rather than in earth outside breeding seas.

(B142, B147, B148).

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Northern Hemisphere, Arctic circle southward to deserts of North Africa and Central America and steppes of Asia (B52).
• Palearctic to Indochina, Canada, USA (B51).
• "Eurasia except south-eastern tropical zone, northern Africa, most of Canada and the United States" (B147).
• "Mainly Holarctic. Palearctic from north-western Africa to China and Japan, also Arabian peninsula, north of Indian subcontinent, Sikkim, Bhutan. North America but not its Arctic Islands. Within Europe, not found: Crete, smaller Greek islands, Balearic Islands, Malta, Elba, Lipari, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland, Faeroes, Iceland (B143).
• Absent: Scottish islands except Skye, Scilly Isles, Channel Islands (B142).

Australia, USA, various islands in Pacific Ocean (B51, B52).

Intraspecific variation

• North American red fox sometime been considered separate species Vulpes fulva but now generally accepted as conspecific (B142, B147): Vulpes vulpes fulva (B52).
• British fox formerly considered separate subspecies Vulpes vulpes crucigera (B142).
• 48 subspecies (B52).

Conservation Status

• Wide distribution, large numbers (B144).
• Population stable, spring population in Europe (not including Russia) 750,000-1,000,000 (B143).
• Common (B148).
• In Britain: native, probably increasing in numbers as well as range. Pre-breeding population estimate of about 240,000, including 195,000 in England, 23,000 in Scotland, 22,000 in Wales. Population estimate was "based on a very limited amount of information for the species" although additional knowledge "may not necessarily have made a substantial difference to the estimate". (B221).