UK Native Species Spotlight #1 The Fox

Every Thursday will be home to the Native Species Spotlight where I will choose one of the UKs inhabitants and bring you as much information as I can for you to love them just as much as I do. This week’s species will be focused upon an animal that has many problems facing its future – The Fox

General information

Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes
Common name: Red Fox
Foxes are part of the canid family that includes wolves, coyotes, artic foxes and the domestic dog. Canids are classed as carnivores but they are generally opportunists adapting to whatever food they can find. Foxes are slender in appearance with pointed ears and an elongated muzzle, their coat is red with the back of the ears and front of the legs black in colour and the throat and belly white/grey. The fox from a distance can appear as a relatively large animal however they are rather small weighing at about 4-8KG with the average fox in Britain not much bigger than a domestic cat. Captive foxes can live up to 14 years however, in the wild they rarely live more than a couple of years due to illegal hunting, pest control and road accidents.

Behaviour of Foxes

Foxes are generally solitary animals, travelling and hunting on their own and do not hunt in packs such as other carnivores from the same family including wolves and dogs. It has been believed that foxes live a solitary life only meeting for the breeding season, this has now been found to be untrue. Foxes are generally monogamous with a male and female forming a pair that may last a lifetime. Although the pair hunt, feed and travel alone they may occasionally meet during which they will play or groom one another. Urban fox breeding pairs are sometimes accompanied by a “helper” that is usually the offspring of the pair that has stayed with its parents past the normal age they would usually leave. It has also been found that some foxes can even live in large social groups yet research is still occurring into their lives. As a territorial species, the fox will defend the area it lives in against another fox. To ensure other foxes are aware of their presence a fox will scent mark throughout their territory as an effective form of communication. If a fox is removed from an area for a length of time another fox will move in but removing one fox will not eliminate foxes all together.

Foxes are also incredibly playful and will play with items found in your garden such as dog toys, balls and even trampolines check out this video to put the biggest smile on your face!

The Urban Fox

Red foxes have adapted to living in urban areas throughout the world in cities within Europe, Australia, Japan and North America. The urban fox established itself in London and Bristol in the 1940s and since then has spread to further cities throughout the UK. Until recent years the fox numbers were stable within urban areas this is due to a wide spread parasitic disease called sarcoptic mange that is now declining both rural and urban foxes with some places up to 95% of the population now deceased.

Urban fox diet

As foxes are omnivorous i.e. they will eat anything their diet will depend entirely on the area that they live in. In London, the largest portion of their diet is food that is scavenged such as meat, bones, bread and bird food. Foxes will also eat wild mammals such as rats and rabbits, birds and invertebrates such as earthworms and beetles. Rescue charities such as The Fox Project or the Foxman regularly see urban foxes in their care and will feed them a range of food including cake due to developing a sweet tooth.

Fox Hunting upsetting image below.

For a long time now fox hunting has been a hugely controversial topic in the UK. Pro supporters continue to maintain that fox hunting controls the population and is a form of pest control rather than a sport. Anti-hunt supporters argue the fact that it is completely inhumane due to how the foxes are hunted down to exhaustion and then ripped apart by 50 dogs. Fox hunting has been banned in Scotland since 2002 and 2005 in the UK and wales however, this does not stop illegal hunts that occur regularly.

What can I do to help foxes

As you drive down the roads and you see a fox at the side of the road obviously been hit by a car please stop and check him/her to be sure he isn't still alive. In the UK you do not need to stop nor report hitting a wild animal such as a fox and there are 1000s of animals suffering at the side of the road due to people not knowing to check them. If you find a fox that is still alive call the Fox Project on 01892 731565 (9.00am – 9.00pm Daily) or the RSPCA out of these hours on 0300 1234 999. The fox project is a southern UK charity but they may be able to put you in touch with a local fox project in your area. If you can cover the fox in a towel or blanket in the mean time it is best to cover their eyes and then the body to keep them warm. Keep yourself safe they will bite and attack if they can. Please report all sick and injured wildlife! If you want to feed wild animals then be sure that your pets are safe from attacks so feed at a safe distance.

My final thoughts on foxes

I hear a lot as a zookeeper that people hate foxes for killing their pets and although I feel for a person who has lost their pet to a fox I also think about how secure their animal was prior to being killed. Was their house that secure to deter a fox? Securely housing a pet will naturally decrease any risk that the fox will predate on them. At the end of the day a fox is just trying to live, an easy meal is an easy meal for them, regardless of whether fluffy was their much-loved pet. I would be devastated to lose Harvey and Herb (My pet Rabbits) to a fox but I also feel I would only have myself to blame and therefore I have secured their house enough to ensure Mr fox cannot get to them. I also have a RSPB approved predator deterrent outside my rabbit house that sets off an alarm only they can hear. I am due to get another one for a spot at the other side of the run to ensure maximum safety. I'm highly against fox hunting, I do not see the reason behind such a barbaric sport that I feel has no place in modern society; how can anyone condemn a defenceless animal to being chased until it is exhausted then ripped apart by 50 dogs? I will never understand it and will forever stand up for these amazing animals. I would just like to point out these are my own views through my own research you are free to make your own mind up.

These animals are incredible, they have managed to adapt to both rural and urban life and live amongst us usually without us knowing. I have 4 foxes visiting our house that occasionally I will put food out for especially at this time of the year, and when we have had very wet weather. We should encourage native wildlife rather than eradicate it and abuse it. I do not want my children to grow up not ever seeing a wild fox in their lives, at 10pm most evenings I can step outside and see our local fox sitting on the corner watching me. He/she is incredible, I am so privileged to see them. Here is a short video of a fox visiting my garden earlier this year

I hope you enjoyed this weeks native species spotlight! Next week will feature Hedgehogs!

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