Black fox?... What?

KnittingToMetal · #1 (**permalink**) 23-05-2011, 09:27 PM

Hi all.

About four days ago, I was riding home from my better halves place (at 4:30 in the morning.) It was quite light, and I was cycling down a road I cycle down regularly, then all of a sudden I had to slam on my breaks. I nearly ran over what I think (I'm about 99.999999% sure) that it was a black fox. There was no white tip, and it was far too big to be a cat. The tail pretty much gave away the fact it was a fox. Where has a black fox come from? Should I keep my eyes open for it in case it appears again? Should I keep my camera on me?

Let me know?
Thanks all.

posie · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2011, 10:18 PM

...Yes, definitely try and get a photo of it....Posie..

werdnal · #3 (**permalink**) 23-05-2011, 10:28 PM

It is quite possible you saw a black fox. I think its known as "melanistic" - more dark pigment than usual. Its like albino but the other end of the scale.

A quick look on Google came up with this:

First British sighting of rare black fox captured on film | Mail Online

Quite a spooky looking little creature isn't it!

mbaldw · #4 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 07:18 PM

As others have said: yes, definitely keep your camera on you! Black foxes crop up from time-to-time, although in Europe as a whole, jet-black animals (most have some degree of white-tipping to the hairs, giving a frosted or silvery appearance) are thought to account for only ~1% of the population. This colour morph is much more common in North America. The colour is the result of a recessive gene that causes excessive eumelanin (a dark pigment) to be deposited as the fur grows. Regular morphs have fur into which both eumelanin and phaeomelanin (a lighter pigment) is deposited alternatively - the result is a banded hair that has an overall reddish appearance.

Cheers,
Marc.

~T~ · #5 (**permalink**) 25-05-2011, 01:26 PM

My mate sent me these links the other day. The fox in that link looks like the tame ones

Domesticated Fox Breeding Program

Sibfox – Our foxes

jamesthornton · #6 (**permalink**) 25-05-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~T~

My mate sent me these links the other day. The fox in that link looks like the tame ones

Domesticated Fox Breeding Program

Sibfox – Our foxes

If you mean you think this is an escaped Russian Silver Fox I doubt it. I know a person who keeps various Exotic Fox species and there is thought only to be one person in the UK who has gotten one of the Russian tame foxes. But they could be wrong!

~T~ · #7 (**permalink**) 25-05-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesthornton

If you mean you think this is an escaped Russian Silver Fox I doubt it. I know a person who keeps various Exotic Fox species and there is thought only to be one person in the UK who has gotten one of the Russian tame foxes. But they could be wrong!

Nah I didn't really think it was an escaped pet but just that it was odd that my mate had sent me the links not long before I read this thread so saw multiple black foxes in one day

KnittingToMetal · #8 (**permalink**) 06-06-2011, 12:18 AM

I saw it again! About 200 meters from where I first saw it. It was definitely black all over, and quite large. A little larger then your average fox. But now I am CERTAIN that it is a fox. No doubt in my mind now that I've seen it for a second time.

I will be keeping my camera on me from now on to see if I can get a shot of this black beasty.

N0z · #9 (**permalink**) 06-06-2011, 12:34 AM

Black fox... this forum just keeps getting better and better!

KnittingToMetal · #10 (**permalink**) 18-06-2011, 01:50 AM

I SAW IT AGAIN! *Jumps around*. The only reason why I am SO excited about it is because there were three cubs. One normal one and two BLACK ones! I can't believe it. My camera is glued to me now in case I see it again.
Being an insomniac who is up at 4:30am really does have its advantages!