Oli's Ecology Blog

The red fox is one of the most widespread and adaptable mammals on Earth. Found across Europe, Asia, North America, and even parts of North Africa, it thrives in forests, farmland … and cities.

Its adaptability allows it to live in rural countryside and dense urban areas alike including cities like London, and in many cities urban foxes are now a common sight.

Red foxes use remarkable hunting techniques. One of the most fascinating is “mousing” they leap high into the air and pounce headfirst into snow or grass to catch hidden prey. Outstandingly, research even suggests they may use Earth’s magnetic field (a sixth sense) (magnetoreception) to help judge distance when hunting, always pointing/jumping magnetic NorthEast, which boosts their success rate nearly 80%!

The red fox lives according to its name with a reddy orange coat and a white belly and jaw. It has darker stockings and paws and a tail tip that is almost always white.

They have a sharp narrow muzzle extending them to about 45-90cm long (excluding tail) and large triangular ears, providing them with incredibly acute hearing (allowing them to hunt by “mousing”).

Red foxes typically only live 2-3 years in the wild and the only wild member of the dog family. They are scrappy scavengers and will eat almost anything, red foxes live in a burrow system called an ‘earth’. They mark their territory with urine, creating a very recognisable odour.