Nature Facts
Red Fox
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Red Fox Facts:
- Male foxes are known as dogs, tods or reynards
- Females as vixens, and young as cubs, pups, or kits.
- A group of foxes is referred to as a skulk, leash, or earth.
- Size: largest species of Fox is the Red Fox, the smallest is the Fennec Fox.
- Foxes can hear a mouse squeak or move 100ft (about 40 yards) away!
- Average lifespan 2-5 years.
- Foxes have partially retractable claws.
- They are omnivores and will eat insects, reptiles, mice and other (vertabres and invertabres)
Locations Matters!
Fennec foxes (and other species of fox adapted to life in the desert, such as kit foxes), have large ears and short fur to aid in keeping the body cool.
Arctic foxes have tiny ears and short limbs as well as thick, insulating fur, which aid in keeping the body warm.
When hunting, foxes us a pouncing technique. They crouch down to camouflage themselves in the terrain and then use their hind legs to leap up with great force and land on top of their chosen prey.
Targeting System
Some studies* have shown that the red fox has more success hunting when facing north. These studies indicate that they may be using the alignment of the earth’s magnetic field as a type of targeting system.
*https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13811-birds-can-see-the-earths-magnetic-field/
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” – Luke 11:28
A female fox gives birth to a litter of 2-12 “kits” in the spring. The kits are dark gray when born, but grow a new coat within a month.