The fox is at one and the same time an extremely popular character in fables and folklore and a creature much persecuted, unfairly, because of the things it is believed to do. Most people think the fox is sinister and evil, nevertheless survives and continues to lead a quiet life in the fields and woods. There are a dozen different species of fox living in all continents, with the exception of Australia. The red fox usually lives in Europe and parts of Asia.

The red fox is a sociable animal which lives in small family groups, like African wild dogs. Its habits are mostly nocturnal but it does move about during the day and will even pursue voles over the fields in broad daylight, in places where they think they are quite safe - something which is not always the case! The life of the fox is secretive and it is not easy to observe the animal, since it has a suspicious nature quite our of the ordinary. Completely passive, the fox will establish itself in one spot, perhaps in a forest, where it digs earth; it will sometimes live in a drainage pipe or even a rustic shed of some kind, when the opportunity arises (who wouldn’t???).

The fox’s burrow is a masterpiece. Very deep, it comprises a network of galleries, which connect to several openings, one being the main one. Inside, the female gives birth in one of the galleries, after 51 to 52 days of gestation. They usually have 5 young but anywhere around 3 to 8 is fine. When their eyes open in 12 to 15 days, they begin to explore their surroundings, learn to hunt, and by 3 to 4 months, they are independent and stay with the family (which I’m not sure of). They are sexually mature in 10 to 12 months and their life-span is about 12 years in the wild. They are quite small in size, like a household cat, and are limited in the choice of prey, not like the wolf.

The principal food of the fox consists of rodents of all kinds. It is partial to carrion and is a regular visitor to rubbish tips. It is accused of being a slayer of pheasants and poultry, but why not, if it is given a chance? Young foxes are charming and easily tamed. But as soon as they being to grow up their wild character takes over and they then prefer to return to their natural habitat.

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