Fox

Facts
Scientific Name: 
Vulpes vulpes
Weight : 
They usually weigh 3 to 14 kg with males being slightly larger than females.
Life Span: 
A fox may survive for up to 2 years in the wild, normally, but a lifespan of 10 years has been known.
Also Known As: 
Red Fox
Information
Description : 

A slender dog like animal with reddish brown upper coat and white/grey underparts, plus a bushy white tipped tail which is approx. 40cm in length

Distribution : 

Found throughout the UK, though rarely found on smaller islands.

Habitat : 

A common mammal, the fox inhabits a den, or earth, often hollowed out under a tree root; sometimes the fox will cohabit with badgers.

Predators : 

Man has probably been the greatest threat to the fox population.

Reproduction : 

The mating dog and vixen will travel about together for approx. 3 weeks during the mating season which is from late December to about the middle of February. The pregnancy lasts just under 8 weeks, and a litter of four or five cubs will be born on the floor of the earth - no nest is built. The young cubs mature around September and dog foxes leave the family group to establish their own territory.

Status : 

Since this is the most abundant wild carnivore in the world, it will be interesting to see what happens to their numbers in the UK following the ban on fox hunting.

Did You Know?: 

Despite being mainly a nocturnal hunter, the fox can often be seen crossing open land during the day. Its cry or distinctive scent being a more likely indicator of its presence.

Footprint Images: 
Footprint Description: 

Normal stride between tracks 45cm. More compact and rounded than the print of a Dog, less splayed, with the claws of the two front toes much closer together. Often fur can be seen between the pads in a print on soft ground. The easiest way to ascertain whether a print has been made by a Fox and not a Dog, is to draw an imaginary "X" through the track - if you can do so without the "X" cutting through any of the pad marks then its almost certainly a Fox.

Footprint Size: 

5x4.5cm.

Tracks Description: 

Fox trails are usually straighter than those of Dogs, which tend to wander more.

Droppings Images : 
Droppings Description : 

Fox scats can usually be indentified by their tapered ends, dense contruction and "musty" smell, which is present even after several days. They may be dropped singly, or in groups. Generally, scats will contain a lot of fur from prey such as Rabbits or Voles, but may also contain beetles,seeds,feathers and other various food remains.Colouration is usually dark when fresh, fading over time to a pale grey. Occasionally very pale scats may be found possibly due to a high bone content in the diet. Very fresh scats have a really strong musty odour, and slimy appearance.