Red fox - Vulpes vulpes

Red foxes are the largest species of the genus Vulpes. However, red foxes are much lighter than similarly sized dogs, since their bones weigh significantly less per unit area of bone. Red foxes display significant individual, sexual, age and geographical variation in size. On average, adults measure 35–50cm high at the shoulder and 49–90 cm in body length, with tails measuring 53–60 cm. They weigh 2–10 kg, with vixens typically weighing 15-20% less than males.

Red Fox

Red Foxes have been recorded in habitats as diverse as tundra, desert and forest, as well as in city centres (including major European cities such as Brussels, London, Paris, Stockholm, etc.). Their natural habitat is dry, mixed landscape, with abundant "edge" of scrub and woodland. They are also abundant on moorlands, mountains (even above the treeline, known to cross alpine passes), deserts, sand dunes and farmland from sea level to 4,500 m. In the UK, they generally prefer mosaic patchworks of scrub, woodland and farmland. Red foxes flourish particularly well in urban areas. They are most common in residential suburbs consisting of privately owned, low-density housing and are less common where industry, commerce or blocks of flats predominates. In many habitats, foxes appear to be closely associated with man, even thriving in intensive agricultural areas.

In captivity, red foxes can live as long as 14 years, though in the wild mortality rates are very high and they typically do not survive past a few years of age.

Red foxes reproduce once a year in Spring. Gestation lasts 49–58 days. Though largely monogamous, DNA evidence indicates high levels of polygyny, incest and mixed paternity litters. Red foxes live in family groups sharing a joint territory. Subordinate vixens may become pregnant, but usually fail to whelp or have their kits killed postpartum by either the dominant female or other subordinates.

Average litter sizes consist of 4-6 kits, though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred. Large litters are typical in areas where fox mortality is high.

Red Fox density is highly variable. In the UK, density varies between one fox per 40 km² in Scotland and 1,17/km² in Wales, but can be as high as 30 foxes per km² in some urban areas where food is superabundant. Social group density is one family per km² in farmland, but may vary between 0,2-5 families per km² in the suburbs and as few as a single family per 10 km² in barren uplands. Fox density in mountainous rural areas of Switzerland is three foxes per km². In northern boreal forests and Arctic tundra, they occur at densities of 0,1/km². The average social group density in the Swiss mountains is 0,37 family per km².

The pre-breeding British fox population totals an estimated 240,000. Mean number of foxes killed per unit area by gamekeepers has increased steadily since the early 1960s in 10/10 regional subdivisions of Britain, but it is not clear to what extent this reflects an increase in fox abundance. Although an increase in fox numbers following successful rabies control by vaccination was widely reported in Europe (e.g., fox bag in Germany has risen from 250,000 in 1982–1983 to 600,000 in 2000–2001), no direct measures of population density have been taken. Globally, red fox numbers are thought to be stable and they are believed to be increasing their range.

Due to its IUCN listing as Least Concern, its expanding habitat, high abundance and reproductive rate, exact figures for red fox population numbers are rarely collected. The species is native in the following countries of Eurasia:

Afghanistan; Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Greenland; Hungary; Islamic Republic of Iran; Ireland; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Malta; Monaco; Mongolia; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; San Marino; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Svalbard and Jan Mayen; Sweden; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; United Kingdom; Uzbekistan.

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Andorra
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• China
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• European Union
• Faroe Islands
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Italy
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Uzbekistan

• Carpathians
• Cantabrian mountains
• Hardangervidda
• Lena Delta
• Mongolia
• Vologda

Distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the Asiatic steppes, the Red Fox has the widest geographical range of any member of the order Carnivora (covering nearly 70 million km²). Not found in Iceland, the Arctic islands, some parts of Siberia, or in extreme deserts. European subspecies introduced into eastern United States and Canada in 17th century, subsequently mixed with local subspecies. The species was also introduced to Australia in 1800s. Elsewhere introduced to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and to the Isle of Man (UK), although it may subsequently have disappeared there.

The red fox is distributed across the entire northern hemisphere and nearly all of Eurasia. It is not found in Iceland, the Arctic islands, some parts of Siberia, or in extreme deserts. It was introduced to the Isle of Man (UK), although it may subsequently have disappeared there.

Red Fox watching

The main threats to the red fox include habitat degradation, loss, fragmentation, and exploitation, and direct and indirect persecution. However, the red fox's versatility and eclectic diet are likely to ensure their persistence despite changes in landscape and prey base. Culling may be able to reduce numbers well below carrying capacity in large regions, but no known situations exist where this currently threatens species persistence on any geographical scale.

The number of foxes raised for fur (although much reduced since the 1900s) exceeds that of any other species, except possibly mink (Mustela vison). Types farmed are particularly colour variants ("white", "silver" and "cross") that are rare in the wild.

Worldwide trade in ranched red fox pelts (mainly "silver" pelts from Finland) was 700,000 in 1988–1989 (excluding internal consumption in the USSR).

• The fox website
  The red fox is a very adaptable carnivore and has the largest distribution of any wild land mammal in the world. As with all carnivores, it often comes into conflict with people. Here you will find information on all aspects of red fox ecology, behaviour, management and human conflict.
• Wight Conservation
  Wight Conservation is the largest privately owned estate on the Isle of Wight which is dedicated to farming in the best interests of wildlife. It owns, or rents 2027 acres, 2.2% of the Isle of Wight’s land mass. The principal farm is at Wroxall, near Ventnor, but there are important conservation sites at Mottistone, Brighstone, Shorwell and Havenstreet. Few areas can match its diversity of important wildlife habitats and species.
• Conserve Ireland
  This website is based on the thesis of Steven Mc Morrow, whilst studying for a degree on Spatial Planning and Environmental Management. The thesis focused on a protected areas inventory database which allowed users to check if an area qualified for protection under environmental legislation based on its habitat type or species located there in.

• Large scale nature development- the Oostvaardersplassen

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To illustrate this webpage (and for the sake of the protection of these animals) we have made use of photos of which it is not always clear who is the possessor of the credits and rights. If you feel yourself infringed in your rights or if you know the source of a photo, please let us know.