(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 competition 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. Silver foxes’ unique pelts are especially in high demand and often produced under catastrophic animal welfare conditions on fur farms in multiple European countries.
Appearance
The silver fox is a color variation (or melanistic mutation) of the red fox. The name is derived from the foxesโ fur, ranging from silver to almost black. Varying amounts of white or white-banded hair can be found in the silver foxesโ 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-colored eyes.

- Foxes jump high in the air and then head dive to catch mice with their forelegs.
- Length Body 50โ70 cm, Tail 35โ40 cm
- Weight 5 - 7 kg
- Lifespan ยฑ 3 Years in the wild, 10-12 years in captivity
- Range North America, Europe, Asia and Australia
- Habitat Deserts, Dune, Savanna, Grassland, Chaparral, Forest, Scrub Forest, Mountains and Urban
Reproduction
Fox mating behavior can vary significantly, also due to their wide geographical spread. Monogamous pairs, males with multiple females, but also pairs with non-breeding females nursing their young exist. 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 kits per litter. The pups donโt open their eyes for the first two weeks and only leave the den after 5 weeks. After 10 months, the kits will leave the family group to find their territory. These territories can be as far as almost 400 km away. Animals remain in the same home range for life.
(Silves) 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, mainly actives during twilight and night. 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 donโt 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 kilometers in food-rich areas and larger territories of up to 50 square kilometers where food is scarce.
AAP and Silver Foxes
Silver Fox Totoro was sold on the internet multiple times as his owners never could take care of him. Also, his last owner was utterly overwhelmed and didnโt treat Totoro well. When Totoro arrived at AAP, he 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.
