9 Fun Facts about Foxes

Foxes have always been a personal favorite of mine. Arctic Fox, Fennec Fox, Red Fox, Corsac Fox— I love them all. I find them cute and funny.

In fact, I love foxes so much that I named one of our dogs ‘Foxy’.

Foxes are not just cute and funny. They are also incredibly intelligent, resourceful and charming. And these qualities are the reasons why they have survived for centuries.

The physical and mental traits of a fox have often been regarded as “cat-software running on dog-hardware”.

Whether you're a fox enthusiast or simply someone who likes to learn facts about animals, this list is for you.  

Here are nine interesting facts about foxes—

1. Foxes have multi-purpose tails.

A fox has a tail that looks like a ‘brush’. Along with looking gorgeous, their tail serves multiple purposes.

The tail of a fox helps them with their balance when they run and sprint. It acts as a flag while communicating with other foxes.

Also, foxes use their thick tails as a blanket during the winter season.

2. Foxes are super adaptable.

When it comes to foxes, evolution did its job efficiently. Hence, foxes are incredibly adaptable creatures.

And this adaptability has helped them thrive in varied environments such as the Sahara desert and the Arctic; which are completely opposite types of environments.

And not just that, when humans started cutting down forests and built cities, the foxes learnt to coexist with humans.

London is famous for this. Many people report seeing foxes in their backyards, even if their houses are located right in the city.

The foxes explore backyards and garbage cans for food, eating everything from crickets to leftover pizzas. Some even eat dog food that is kept outside for pets.

Many kind people feed the foxes that visit their property. Some foxes even play with their pet dogs, forming bonds transcending the divide between wild and domestic.

3. Foxes are solitary creatures.

One of the most well-known facts of foxes is that they do not run in packs. They prefer to travel, sleep, run and hunt alone.

However, during the mating season and the kit-raising season, foxes tend to forge a strong bond with their mates and younglings.

More often than not, foxes mate for life, raising their kits together, living together as a family unit.

They also share a territory with their mates and defend it together as partners that ‘work and play’ together.

4. Foxes giggle.

A fun fact about foxes for kids is that foxes can giggle, in a way. There are many fun videos of this online that you can look up.

They make a sound that is called ‘gekkering’. And gekkering sounds a lot like laughing.

It is basically a high-pitched noise that foxes make when they are excited. Their teeth chatter while making that noise.

The same vocalisation is made by foxes during aggressive encounters and territorial disputes as well.

5. Foxes can climb trees.

Grey foxes have strong semi-retractable claws and rotating wrists that give them the ability to climb trees efficiently.

Sometimes, while trying to catch a prey or escape a predator, Grey foxes can climb upto a height of over 10 meters.

6. Foxes have vertical pupils.

Most canines have round pupils.

And even though foxes belong to the Canidae family and hence, are canines, they have vertical slits for pupils; just like cats do.

Foxes’ vertical pupils give them great night vision, making them excellent hunters even at nighttime.

It’s one of the reasons why people find foxes’ gaze so piercing and totally feline.

7. Foxes are an important part of folklore.

Kitsune (shapeshifting fox spirits) in Japanese folktales, clever foxes in Aesop’s Fables, Huli Jing in Chinese folktales— foxes have always been an important part of intriguing storytelling.

In addition to these, foxes also feature in European, Russian, African-American and Native American folklore.

Folktales often portray foxes as intelligent beings who use their knowledge and cleverness to ‘trick’ and defeat their adversaries.

An interesting fact about foxes in folktales is that they tend to help the less fortunate and the ones who have a good heart.  

8. The “Vixen” and the “Dog”.

In the animal kingdom, the male and female of a particular species have specific names.

A female fox is called a vixen, while a male fox is called a dog.

9. Foxes use the Earth’s magnetic field to hunt.

It may sound like a line from some mystical story, but some foxes have the ability to see the planet’s magnetic field.

To be precise, Red foxes can see the Earth’s magnetic field. It appears as a ‘ring of shadow’ in their vision.

And when that shadow lines up with the sound of an animal they are preying on, especially when prey is hidden under snow or vegetation, they pounce.

And as they can sense the magnetic north, foxes prefer to attack in that direction. They either jump toward the North or the Northeast to catch their prey.

Fox Facts FAQs

What is a fox's worst enemy?

Coyotes are foxes’ worst enemy. Even though scientifically classified in the same group, they are not friendly at all.

In fact, coyotes and foxes get into a fight whenever they see each other. Coyotes kill foxes in order to reduce competition for food resources in their territory.

So, the clever foxes try their best to avoid coyote territories.

Do foxes have 42 teeth?

Yes. A lot of foxes (Red fox etc.) have 42 teeth throughout their adult life.

What is a fox's biggest fear?

Foxes are scared of loud noises (sudden high-pitched sounds), bright lights (intense headlights in a dark night), and large predators (huge birds of prey, coyote, bears etc.).

Even though a lot of fox species are wary of humans, there are a few fox species that have learnt to coexist with humans.

They get very close to human settlement (homes etc.) when they are very hungry and smell food in people's backyards.

There are many people who feed foxes on a daily basis. Some foxes even come to play with pet dogs in the yard.

Can foxes fall in love?

For all intents and purposes, many fox species display ‘signs of being in love’ with their mates.

Fox couples form a strong bond with their partners during the breeding and rearing season. They work together as a team to ensure the survival of their offspring.

Many of these family-oriented partnerships continue beyond the breeding and rearing season. A lot of foxes mate for life.

Would a fox bite a human?

Under normal circumstances, foxes do not bite humans.

In rare cases, when foxes get rabies, they might attack humans. Sometimes, when a human is trying to capture a fox, the fox might try to bite or scratch that person.      

What's the friendliest fox?

Gray foxes are known to be the friendliest and calmest ones.

Unlike other fox species, they are quite friendly with people; specially the ones that were bred in captivity. However, they can never be fully housebroken.

Please take heed that wild animals are dangerous and should not be approached unless you are officially qualified to do so.

Do foxes cry?

Foxes make a sound that is similar to a human scream. Hence, in a way, foxes do cry.

But they do not scream out of fear. Foxes use their cry as a form of communication over long distances.

Plus, during the mating season, the piercing, high-pitched screams are made by  females (vixen) to attract mates. It is also made by the males to mark their territory.              

Should you touch a fox?

It is best to avoid touching any wild animal, including a fox.  

But if you must touch a fox for rescue efforts and such, you need to wear thick gloves and other protective gear before handling one.

Like most mammals, foxes might carry certain parasites (ticks, ringworms, fleas etc.) and diseases (rabies etc.).

Hence, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after handling or touching a fox.  

Do foxes have a high IQ?

In the animal kingdom, foxes are known to have a high IQ. It has been found that in general, foxes are more intelligent than dogs.

It has been seen that a dog usually solves a problem using a straightforward way, usually by brute force.

But a fox might try to solve the same problem using a wide range of ideas, not just physical strength.

Foxes’ memory, spatial reasoning and understanding of repeated gestures are above average compared to countless other animals.

So, how smart are foxes? The answer is, very smart.