Interesting Facts about Fox
- Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species are actually true foxes.
- By far the most common and widespread species of fox is the red fox.
- A group of foxes is referred to as a skulk, leash, troop, or earth.
- In the wild, foxes can live for up to 10 years, but most foxes only live for 2 to 3 years due to hunting, road accidents and diseases.
- Foxes are generally smaller than other members of the family Canidae such as wolves, jackals, and domestic dogs.
- Male foxes are called Reynard, and weigh, on average, around 5.9 kilograms, while female foxes, called vixens, weigh less at around 5.2 kilograms.
- Most species of fox generally consume around 1 kg of food every day.
- In July 2002, a 14-week-old baby was attacked by fox in a house, in United Kingdom.
- In June 2010, 9-month-old twin girls were bitten on the arms and face when a fox entered their upstairs room in east London.
- Fox hunting is an activity that originated in the United Kingdom in the 16th century. Hunting with dogs is now banned in the United Kingdom, though hunting without dogs is still permitted.
- The Fennec fox is the smallest species of fox.
- The Fennec fox has a life span of up to 14 years in captivity.
- The Fennec fox weighs about 0.68 to 1.6 kg, with a body length of 9 to 16 inch; it is around 8 inch tall.
- The ears of a Fennec are sensitive enough to hear prey that may be underground.
- The gestation period of fox is 52 days. Litters tend to average 5–8 kits but may be as many as 25.
- Both the mother and the father help to raise their young. The females leave the family and form their own groups and the males stay with the family.
- The red fox is the largest of the true foxes.
- The largest red fox on record in Great Britain was a 17.2 kg, 4 ft 7 inch long male, killed in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in early 2012.
- They trot at a speed of 6 to 13 km/h, and have a maximum running speed of 50 km/h.
- The soles of its feet are protected from the hot desert sand.
