- Foxes are primarily nocturnal animals.
- The fox is the smallest member of the dog family.
- The red fox is the most common species of the foxes.
- Foxes are primarily carnivores and primarily feed upon rodents such
as rabbits, mice, squirrels, birds, eggs, insects etc.
- Foxes usually have 4-5 pups, born in the spring.
- Foxes hunt alone and not in packs such as wolves, dogs and hounds.
- The fox has a very keen sense of sight, hearing and smell.
- All foxes commonly live in burrows though they sometimes make
- A major factor contributing to the fox's success is their eating habits.
Foxes are omnivores, who will eat virtually anything they come across.
They have a reputation for taking poultry, but more often eat such undesirables
as rats and slugs, along with fruit, berries, roots, carrion, and, in
cities, discarded chips and pizzas. Instead of chicken thieves, they
are more frequently nature's dustmen.
- Foxes often only live for one or two years, although they have been
known to survive up to nine years.
- They are territorial, and for most of the year they form small family
groups.
- Mating occurs in January, so this is the chief time for travelling.
- In March the cubs are often born after a fifty-three day gestation
period.
- Care of the young is often delegated to females related to the mother.
- The cubs soon grow and, through play, learn to fend for themselves.
Consequently the adults often leave them alone for long periods. It
is important not to interfere with "abandoned" cubs, as the
vixens will return for them.
- Between August and November the cubs leave the family group to find
new territories, often taking over from old and weak adults. These territories
can they occupy. Territories range from two square kilometres in urban
areas to forty square kilometres in hill country.
- Foxes are active nocturnally, so the best time to watch for them
is at dawn or dusk.
- They do not hibernate, so are often seen all year round, but in the
summer you may have the added bonus of seeing the cubs playing.
- Foxes are very distinctive, although people are often surprised at
how small they are, just a foot high to the shoulder.
- They are not necessarily very red either, they can be many shades
of brown.
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