European Red Fox

 

Characteristic

The European Red Fox can be distinguished by its red coat and whitish chin, throat, chest and belly. It is also known for having a white, black or even dark red tipped tail. The bushy tail, big ear, narrow chest and long legs are also key defining features of the fox’s physique. Though the fox’s coat is generally described as red, it varies significantly in shades from light orange to brownish red.

As a fully-grown adult, the European Red Fox can vary from 62cm-67cm in length and 5kg-6kg in weight for females, and 67cm-72cm in length and 6kg-7kg for males. The size of a juvenile fox (at six weeks of age) is approximately 1kg in weight.

The foxes are generally independent at the age of 6-7 months, however will stay with their family groups. Foxes will leave the group from 6-9 months. Foxes will reach sexual maturity at the age of 9-10 months old.

 

Behaviour

The European Red Fox is a prime forager and hunter. The fox hunts for it prey and, once victorious, will eat its catch until its appetite is satisfied. If there is anything left of the catch, the fox will cache/bury the leftovers for future consumption. The fox will then continue to hunt and cache.

Apart from the foxs’ breeding season they are solitary by nature. In their existence there is little need for cooperation due to the generally small size of their prey. However, the foxes have been seen working in groups to take down larger prey, such as cows. They will also gather where there is an abundance of food on offer. It is during the breeding season that the foxes are the most social. They form into groups or packs where there is a dominant adult male, a dominant adult female, and several subordinate females (which are often relatives). The dominant male and female will reproduce; however, the subordinate females of the pack will perform the parental care for the cubs.

The Red Foxes chiefly communicate by sound. They have a repertoire of approximately 28 vocalisations used to convey different messages. These can be calls of greeting, excitement, threat, defence, acknowledgment, warning, alarm, and in defence of their territories.

 

Diet

The European Red Fox is an opportunistic omnivore and will eat just about anything it comes across that it is capable of eating. Its diet, therefore, substantially varies including rabbits, rodents, frogs, birds, insects, vegetables and grains. 

 

 

Predators

Though the European Red Fox is predator to many species, to others it is also prey. These species include dingoes and also humans. The foxes are prey to humans as they are hunted and killed in efforts to control their numbers around Australia. Birds and dogs can also prey upon the fox cubs as they are small and cannot put up as much of a fight as the adults.

 

 

Distribution and Abundance

The European Red Fox, as the name suggests, originated in Europe, however has spread to many countries since. The red fox’s distribution is more far spread than any of its relatives as they can be found across the entire northern hemisphere and almost all of Eurasia from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and Asia. The fox is estimated to cover nearly 70 million kilometres. Though the fox is native to over fifty countries across the world it ihas been introduced to several including Australia in the 1800s and the Falkland Islands.

 

It is estimated that there are more than 7.2 million European Red Foxes in Australia with a range that stretches across most of the mainland of the continent and has become one of the countries most invasive species. In NSW alone there is an estimated density of 1/km2 in coastal forests, 2 to 5/km2 semi-arid and sub-alpine regions, and 6 to 8/km2 in temperate grazing lands. In the peri-urban and urban areas of NSW, the density of foxes ranges between 16 to 60/km2. The density and abundance of the European Red Fox is regulated by the environment of the area.

 

Habitat

The European Red Fox was introduced to hunting during the mid-1800s. They have spread mostly across Australia. They play a very major role in the decline of native species. The European Red Fox also adapts well to human environments, including urban areas. They prefer areas that are of lower latitudes. During the winter the European Red Fox spends most of its time in its habitat (usually a den).

The habitats that the red foxes live in are forests, grasslands, mountains and deserts. They can also live in suburban areas, farms and large communities as they adapt really quickly and well to different habitats. Due to this they are very resourceful and are known to be intelligent and cunning. 

 

Impacts and Management

The European Red Fox plays a major part in the decline of a number of species such as small native animals in Australia and newborn lambs. There are some ways in which they control and manage the red foxes. These ways to control them are ruthless but get the job done. The methods are by shooting them or trapping them.