Foxy Facts

How many different sounds can a fox make?

November is peak ‘dispersal’ period for young male foxes, meaning it’s the time they leave home to find a territory of their own (though some leave as early as July and others won’t leave until December). Some juvenile females will also leave the safety of their family in autumn and winter, but others may remain with their parents for longer and become “helper vixens”, assisting with younger siblings and, in some cases, even stepping in to become a foster parent for their younger siblings.

Since you may be seeing more foxes than usual right now, I thought it might be a good time to share a few facts about them. I gathered these facts from various websites and books for a colouring sheet I made for a recent Wild South London event where we invited children to make a fox mask using an egg box. Look how great they turned out:

A fox mask made by a child at a recent Wild South London event

Fox Facts:

• The London Wildlife Trust estimates there are roughly 10,000 foxes in London.

• Foxes can make over 40 different sounds.

• A group of foxes is called a skulk or a leash.

• Foxes have excellent hearing - they could hear a watch ticking from 36 meters away!

• A female fox is called a vixen and a male fox is called a dog fox or a tod.

• Foxes have eyes that are specially adapted to be able to see in the dark.

Colour-me-in fact sheets for Wild South London amidst owl mask-making

There are, of course, loads more interesting fox facts… so please share in the comments if you know any good ones!

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An urban fox with a broken leg I once spent over an hour with, waiting for someone from The Fox Project to come and help… only for the fox to disappear five minutes before the fox ambulance arrived - typical!

Sources & Further Reading

• A year in the life of an urban fox

• More on fox dispersal

• Woodland Trust: fox profile

• Should you feed urban foxes? BBC Earth Explore (video) The Guardian (interview)

• The Fox in the Car Park - a lovely tale of an urban fox by

  Thomas Winward

• Fox Facts for Kids

• Support Wild South London and become a member for £10 a year

• Support The Fox Project