What is the fox's life cycle?
The Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a member of the dog family, Canidae, whose animal empire includes the wolf, jackal, coyote, dingo and a whole host of less familiar species. Their evolution is quite distinct and can be traced back to the grassland of North America of nearly 50 million years ago and has spread, in one form or another, to almost every corner of the globe.
The fox's life cycle commences in January with its mating season. At this time complaints from its screaming at night reaches its peak. March is when the cubs are born and by April the cubs first emerge from an earth. By August, the cubs are able to forage for themselves and by the end of September they have grown so as to be indistinguishable from the adult. In November and December there are increases in fox fighting and defending of their territory as the next mating season approaches.
The adult fox weighs around 12-14 pounds, a little heavier than an average cat, but because of its bushy tail has a much larger appearance. The male has an average length of approximately 42 inches (the vixen only slightly smaller at around 40 inches) and can be identified from its unusual foot prints: the fore feet have five toes and the rear four.
Although pure white and pure black wild foxes have been encountered, they are very much the exception, with the yellow-orange (occasionally rusty brown) body and belly fur from white to dark grey being by far the more common colourings.
With high urban mortality rates (the motor car being by far the biggest killer), the city fox has a life expectancy which rarely exceeds 3 years, with 15 months being typical. In rural areas this can extend to 9 years and in captivity further still - 14 years being the oldest recorded in the UK.
If you would like any further information please contact the Department of Regulatory Services on Tel: 01329 236100 or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk
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