Silver fox
(Vulpes vulpes)
Range and habitat
Silver foxes (and red foxes) live across North America, Europe, Asia, and even Australia. Due to their adaptability, foxes can survive in various types of environments. The extermination of many of their predatory competitors also supports the spread of foxes. Furthermore, hunters have introduced foxes as alien species in new areas for fox hunting (e.g. in Australia). While foxes are not considered endangered, they are exploited for their fur.
Appearance
The silver fox is a colour variation (or melanistic mutation) of the red fox. The name is derived from the foxesβ fur, ranging from silver to almost black. Varying amounts of white or white-banded hair can be found in the silver foxesβ fur. Adult (silver) foxes are about 40 cm tall and 100 cm long (including their tail). In many cases, the tail has a white tip. Mature red and silver foxes both have golden, yellow-coloured eyes.
Foxes jump high in the air and then head dive to catch mice with their front legs.
- Length 50β70 cm body, 35β40 cm tail
- Weight 5 to 7 kilograms
- Lifespan average of 3 years in the wild, 10-12 years in captivity
- Range North America, Europe, Asia, Australia
- Habitat Deserts, Dune, Savanna, Grassland, Chaparral, Forest, Scrub Forest, Mountains And Urban
Reproduction
Fox mating behaviour can vary significantly, also because of their wide geographical spread. Monogamous pairs, males with multiple females, but also pairs that live with other non-breeding females that nurse the coupleβs young. Usually, one male is breeding in a group, while other males seek partners outside the group.
Foxes reproduce once a year with an average of five foxes per litter. The pups donβt open their eyes for the first two weeks and only leave the den after 5 weeks. After 10 months, the young foxes will leave the family group to find their own territory. These territories can be as far as almost 400 km away. Animals remain in the same home range for life.
(Silver) foxes are omnivores. They eat both meat and plant foods. Their diet mainly consists of rodents, rabbits, insects, birds, berries, and other plants. If foxes have a surplus of food, they store it in caches, which they can relocate in hard times. Foxes have a characteristic technique of hunting mice: they stand still to detect their prey and then jump high to slam down the mice with their forelimbs and fix them to the ground.
Behaviour and way of life
Silver foxes are solitary and territorial animals. One territory is occupied by an adult male (also called a dog fox) and up to two females (called vixens) with their young. Families and individuals live in dens and connected burrows. Often, foxes donβt create the dens themselves, but they frequently take over and modify abandoned burrows from rabbits, marmots, or other animals. During winter or when raising young, they may expand these dens for additional space and protection. Foxes typically use their dens for multiple generations and can also connect them to hunting grounds or storage caches. Home ranges vary significantly based on resource availability, with smaller territories of around five square kilometres in food-rich areas and larger territories of up to 50 square kilometres where food is scarce.
AAP and silver foxes
Silver fox Totoro was sold on the internet multiple times as her owners never could take care of her. Also, her last owner was utterly overwhelmed and didnβt treat Totoro well. When Totoro arrived at AAP, she met other conspecifics and had a chance to have a more adequate life for a silver fox. Young foxes seem so cute, but appearances are deceptive: they remain wild animals. AAP, therefore, regularly receives silver foxes in its care.
(Silver) foxes as pets
βNot suitable as pets
Silver foxes can carry several dangerous zoonotic diseases. They require significant habitats, extensive foraging runs, and live in a complex social structure. Their living conditions are challenging to reproduce in a domestic environment, and they present a threat of zoonotic infections, making silver foxes unsuitable as companion animals.Β
Risks for human beings
β DiseasesΒ
Silver foxes can transmit the zoonotic pathogens for Leptospira and Rabies.
No risk for injuryΒ
Based on foxes’ size, morphology, and behaviour, a fox might bite if threatened, cornered, or provoked.
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Risks for the animal
βDiet
Foxes typically cover long distances of up to 10 kilometers in a day while foraging.
β HabitatΒ
Silver Foxes claim, mark, and can defend an area that can extended between 0.4-40 kmΒ². They dig and modify dens and need secluded areas for their young.
No risks for climate
Foxes are active year-round in various climate zones and do not depend on special techniques to regulate temperature.
β Social behaviourΒ
Foxes typically form monogamous pairs during the breeding season and raise multiple offspring together. In some populations, dominant females may suppress subordinate ones, especially when resources are limited.
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The criteria and ratings are based on the Dutch Positive List for pets.
