Facts About Foxes

The sly fox has played many roles in fables and stories from ancient folklore. This animal finds a prominent place in literature but very often with negative shades. So, are these hunters really as sly as they are portrayed? These interesting facts about foxes are bound to help you get acquainted with their wild side! And the fictional aspect as well!

Facts about Foxes:

• Foxes are solitary animals that do not really prefer to live in packs. The fox belongs to the medium sized canid group.
• This animal is found in almost every kind of habitat. They also show an ability to adapt to the presence of humans.
• The Fennec fox is the smallest fox seen amongst all the species. This tiny animal weighs a mere 3.5 pounds.
• Scientifically, foxes are known as Vulpes.
• Foxes use various sounds and pitches to communicate between each other. Their high-pitched sounds are noticeable during the mating period in the months of December to January.
• As compared to wolves or jackals, foxes are smaller in size. They are characterized by their sharp muzzle and the rather bushy tail! The chest area and the underbelly generally have a shade of white or grey.
• The physical characteristics may vary as per the species of the fox. The Red fox has a reddish brown coat and the Arctic fox has very thick fur. This would simply mean, the characteristics would depend upon the habitat of the fox.
• Although foxes belong to the Canidae family along with dogs, they also display behavior patterns similar to cats. The vertically slit eyes are on similar lines of the feline cats, besides, they also have retractable claws.
• The Red fox is the most commonly found species of foxes; it occurs in all the continents.
• Foxes generally prefer areas of higher latitudes. They can also adapt themselves well to an urban environment.
• This animal has been used successfully on fruit farms to control pests. Foxes help to get rid of rodents without really harming the fruits.
• Foxes that inhabit areas close to humans also feed on household wastes.
• Although foxes are similar in some ways to cats and dogs, they generally avoid contact with these animals.
• Foxes feed on rodents, worms, insects, birds and all types of relatively smaller sized animals. They also store their food so that it can be consumed later on during the day.
• Foxes are basically nocturnal animals and prefer to hunt at night.
• This animal is also known play an important role to balance the ecological cycle of nature by killing rodents and helping to control an excess of their population.
• The fox was an important character in the Aesop Fables, ‘The Fox and the Grapes’. The idiom, ‘Sour Grapes’ (used to denote a person who after facing loss, does not admit the intention to win!) was derived from this story.
• Foxes have often been depicted in folklore as cunning creatures. Stories often suggest these animals also have magical powers.
• The female fox is called a vixen but in case of humans, a vixen is used to describe an attractive but cunning woman!
• Foxes have also been noticed in films playing a prominent part! Walt Disney production’s film, ‘The Fox and the Hound’ was based on a novel by Daniel Pratt Mannix IV.
• The fox is considered to be an important and sacred figure in Mesopotamian mythology.