Fox screams meaning

[diggleken]

Woke up the other night and heard two screams, fairly sure Fox, but got to wondering why do they scream/cry - is it mating calling, territorial warning or some other display? time of year is getting to spring - so looking for a partner? or has that time passed and vixens are approaching birthing?
Cheers
Ken

[alisonclair]

Hi Ken

Its usually a mating call and a marking out of territory thing I think. Vixens would be close to giving birth now, so probably claiming their bit of land! We had some in the village in December - piercing screams, like nothing I had ever heard before. For a while I thought they were owls, until I saw them on my driveway!

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by alisonclair

Hi Ken

Its usually a mating call and a marking out of territory thing I think. Vixens would be close to giving birth now, so probably claiming their bit of land! We had some in the village in December - piercing screams, like nothing I had ever heard before. For a while I thought they were owls, until I saw them on my driveway!

Hi Alison,
that seems pretty good to me!
And I also just remembered I had a good fox book - 'Wild Fox, a complete study of the red fox' by Roger Burrows.
His substantiated and well observed view is that this screaming is done before and during copulation attempts, but is also potentially part of bloodless combat, so a territorial thing, as you say, as well.
Thanks a lot
Ken

[Rob Chace]

Have a look at this website. There are recordings of various calls.
The Fox Forest
regards
Rob

[Meta menardi]

If you are ever out walking at night and a vixen screams, all you hair stands on end!

In my case all 6 of them.

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by Rob Chace

Have a look at this website. There are recordings of various calls.
The Fox Forest
regards
Rob

That was really interesting Rob.I didn't realise foxes were so vocal.

[tcvarlh]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

If you are ever out walking at night and a vixen screams, all you hair stands on end!

In my case all 6 of them.

I got lost once on the Czech / Austrian border in late Autumn. I had seen a sign in Czech saying 'Go Home, Czech territory, or Else', this was when there still was an Eastern Bloc. I had no Passport or ID and I did not speak any Czech or Slovak. I turned around and got confused in the pinewoods in the deepening twilight. Pine forests all look the same at night, you cannot see the sky, there is no wind. In addition, your mind plays tricks. I was wandering around for about 4 hours before I saw a light and aimed for it. Some of the night noises were so damned frightening, no wonder people used to believe in Trolls and Sprites. Trees become evil when you are lost. Wisps of mist deceive you. Very eerie. Oh yes, Vixens REALLY put the willies up you. Owls too, Frogs are ventriloquists, the dull bonk of a cow-bell causes cold shivers.
Once you're home with a large whatever to drink its all funny though. Funnier after three large whatevers!
h

[brenbee]

what a brilliant site! thanks, rob chace. Often hear foxes here & now I'll b able to tell what they mean.

[floppsy]

Ooh the cat doesn't like that website. I have heard a lot of those noises before but had never thought it might be the sound of a fox. Fascinating.