Written By John Bradley
Foxes have whiskers on their legs and face, which help them to navigate.
A group of foxes is called a skulk or leash. A male is called a ‘dog fox’ while a female is called a ‘vixen’
Grey foxes can retract their claws like cats do.
Foxes are generally solitary animals; unlike wolves, they hunt on their own rather than in packs.
Foxes dig underground dens where they take care of their kits and hide from predators.
Their pupils are vertical, similar to a cat, helping them to see well at night.
The tip of a red fox’s tail is white, whereas swift foxes have a black-tipped tail.
Foxes have excellent hearing. Red foxes can reportedly hear a watch ticking 40 yards away! Their impeccable hearing helps them to identify prey underground. What’s even more interesting is that foxes use the Earth’s magnetic field to locate their prey.
Foxes stink, their funny ‘musky’ smell comes from scent glands at the base of their tail.
Foxes are more like cats than dogs. Similar to cats, foxes are nocturnal.
When the vixen has her pups — a litter of foxes can range between one and 11 pups — they live in the den together for seven months while the pups grow. The pups live in the den with the vixen, while the dog fox gathers food.
foxes can produce a variety of sounds — up to 40 to be exact. The most noticeable is their scream-like howl, which is sure to send a shiver up your spine. Gekkering, a series of guttural chattering, is also the most common noises made by foxes, especially in a dispute.
Foxes, specifically red foxes, are highly territorial. In the event another fox intrudes into its territory, foxes are likely to chatter loudly back and forth in defence of their home.
Foxes love to play. They’re even known to steal golf balls from golf courses to play with! Foxes play alone, with other foxes and other animals — even deer!
