The fox is a scavenger carnivorous dog, generally found in urban city areas in the northern Hemisphere. The fox is a nocturnal mammal, meaning that the fox only goes out a night to hunt for prey. A fox is generally smaller than other members of the dog family like wolves, jackals and domestic dogs.
Fast Facts about Foxes
1. Fox species include the gray fox, red fox, arctic fox, kit fox and fennec fox. The red fox is the most common. There are 21 species of fox.
2. A fox’s den is normally a burrow underground, also known as an ‘earth’, but they can also live above ground in a cosy hollow.
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3. While they are solitary animals, during breeding season (winter) when they court and mate, the dog fox will support the female (vixen) by bringing food for the family (early spring)
4. Depending on the species, foxes range in size. They usually weigh 13 pounds, like a small to medium sized dog.
5. You can often hear the mating calls, which is a sharp, high-pitched shrieking/screaming noise, which can sound quite terrifying.
6. Foxes share some similarities with cats. They have retractable claws (which can be pulled inside the paws) and vertical pupils.
7. Foxes can run very fast (up to 30 miles per hour) thanks to their slender body.
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8. Grey foxes are the only members of the dog family that are able to climb the tree.
9. Pregnancy lasts 53 days and it ends with 3 to 6 pups. They are unable to see, hear or walk in the first couple of days of their life and depend completely on their mother.
10. They have a lifespan of 2 to 5 years but some have lived to be 14 years old in captivity.
