Tag Archives: red fox

How Do Red Foxes Communicate?

May 27, 2018Kodiak Wildlife, Red Foxred fox, Red Fox on Kodiak Island, Red Foxes Communicate, Robin Barefield, Wildlife of Kodiak Islandadmin

You only need to hear the scream of a fox in the middle of the night to know foxes communicate with each other and with other animals. Like dogs, red foxes communicate through body language, vocalizations, and scent.

Most body posturing is either aggressive/dominant or fearful/submissive. A curious fox will rotate his ears while sniffing, and when playing, a fox might perk up his ears and rise on his hind legs. When afraid, red foxes grin in submission, arch their backs, curve their bodies, crouch their legs, point their ears backward and pressed against their skulls, and swing their tails back and forth. Submissive foxes maintain a lower posture when approaching a dominant fox. When two evenly- matched foxes square off, they approach each other sideways and display postures suggesting a mixture of fear and aggression, with ears pulled back, tails lashing, and backs arched. When attacking each other, a red fox approaches its opponent head-on instead of sideways. They hold their tails aloft and rotate their ears to the sides.

In addition to body language, red foxes use vocalization to communicate. They have a wide vocal range and produce sounds spanning five octaves. Biologists have divided most of these sounds into contact calls and interaction calls. Contact calls are used when two foxes approach each other or when adults greet their kits. Foxes use interaction calls either during courting or when dominant and submissive foxes interact or during an aggressive encounter. A call that does not fit into either of these categories is a long, monosyllabic “waaaaah” sound made during the mating season, and biologists think this vocalization is a female calling for males.

The red fox has extremely good hearing, and unlike other mammals, it can hear low-frequency sounds well, allowing it to detect small animals moving underground, so it can dig the prey out of the dirt or snow. Although not as acute as its hearing, the red fox has a good sense of smell and binocular vision that reacts mainly to movement.

A fox’s sense of smell allows it to use scent to communicate. A fox urinates to mark its territory and food caches. A male raises one hind leg and sprays urine in front of him, while a female squats and sprays urine between her hind legs. Then, anal and supra-caudal glands, as well as glands around the lips, jaws, and on the pads of the feet, aid another fox in detecting the scents marking the first fox’s territory or food cache.

As with most mammals, foxes have developed an elaborate array of means to communicate with each other. Just because we don’t understand their language, doesn’t mean they don’t have one.

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Robin Barefield is the author of three Alaska wilderness mystery novels, Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, and The Fisherman’s Daughter. To download a free copy of one of her novels, watch her webinar about how she became an author and why she writes Alaska wilderness mysteries. Also, sign up below to subscribe to her free, monthly newsletter on true murder and mystery in Alaska.

Mystery Newsletter

The Kodiak Red Fox

May 20, 2018Kodiak Wildlife, Red FoxKodiak red fox, red fox, Red Fox Life Cycle, Robin Barefield, Wildlife of Kodiak Islandadmin

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a member of the Order Carnivora and the dog family Canidae. Red foxes occupy the largest geographic range of any member of the Carnivora, across the entire Northern hemisphere, Central America, and Asia. There are currently 45 recognized subspecies of Vulpes Vulpes, and one of these subspecies is Vulpes vulpes harrimani, the Kodiak red fox.

Red foxes are one of only six mammals native to the Kodiak Archipelago, and like most other Kodiak mammals, Kodiak red foxes are very large. They have a huge tail, coarse, thick fur on the lower back and tail, and a thick ruff around the neck and shoulders. Most Kodiak red foxes are either cross foxes with a black/brown cross on their back and shoulders, or they are a solid reddish-orange in color. Silver foxes make up a smaller percentage of the population and are striking with black fur, silver-tipped guard hairs, and yellow eyes.

Red foxes breed in February and March in Alaska. Soon after mating, the female will begin preparing a den for the arrival of her kits (babies). She may dig her own den, but often a fox just enlarges the home of a smaller burrowing animal. The litter is born after a gestation period of 51 to 54 days. An average litter consists of four kits, but litters of ten are not uncommon.

The kits open their eyes at eight to ten days after birth and leave the den for the first time at five to six weeks of age. By the time the kits are three months old, they begin to hunt on their own, and the leave their mother when they are seven months old.
In the summer, we see young foxes dart out of their dens, playing, chasing each other, and learning to hunt. Kits are curious and will often sit and watch us as we cruise past them in our boat. Even adult foxes are curious, but as they age, they learn to be wary.

Most red fox populations are considered stable. Red foxes are adaptable, and while they seem to prefer a wild setting, they can thrive even when living near urban populations.
Humans are fascinated by the beautiful, curious, intelligent red fox, and the red fox has been the subject of many songs, fables, and parables. In certain areas, foxes are trapped or shot for their furs, and in the early 1900s, fox farms, to supply pelts, were established on many of the small islands around the Kodiak Archipelago and off the Alaska Peninsula.

In addition to man, red foxes have several other natural enemies, including wolves coyotes, lynx, wolverines, and possibly bears. Eagles may prey on young foxes. The mite Sarcoptes scabiei causes mange in red foxes, resulting in hair loss, wasting and death. In the wild, red foxes live about five years, but in captivity, they may live as long as fifteen years.

We often see red foxes on the beaches at low tide, feeding on mussels, starfish, sea urchins, worms, and other intertidal animals. Foxes are a part of the Kodiak landscape, and I smile whenever I spot one.

Next week, I’ll tell you how foxes communicate with each other.

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The audiobook of Murder Over Kodiak is now available, and you can buy it here. If you want a free digital copy of one of my books, watch my webinar, and you can download the book for free at the end.

Please leave me a comment if you have any observations, questions, or suggestions

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Mystery Newsletter

Red Fox

August 28, 2016Kodiak Wildlife, Red FoxKodiak Island mammals, Kodiak red fox, Mammals endemic to Kodiak Island, red fox, Vulpes vulpes harrimaniadmin

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a member of the Order Carnivora and the dog family Canidae. Red foxes occupy the largest geographic range of any member of the Carnivora, across the entire Northern Hemisphere, Central America, and Asia. The European red fox is the same species as the American red fox. There are currently 45 recognized subspecies of Vulpes vulpes, and while the classic image of a red fox may be a medium-sized canine with orange-red fur on its head, back, and sides; white fur on its chest and neck; black legs and feet; pointed black ears; and a long, bushy tail tipped in white, the reality is that the 45 subspecies differ greatly in size and color. Only the white tip on the tail distinguishes the red fox from other fox species. In addition to the differences in physical appearance between subspecies, members of the same red fox subspecies may have different color morphs. The three most common color morphs are red, silver/black, and cross. Color variations are more common in colder regions than they are in the southern parts of the range.

Red foxes are one of only six mammal species that are native to Kodiak Island, and the Kodiak red fox is a separate, distinct subspecies (Vulpes vulpes harrimani). Members of this subspecies are very large with a huge tail, coarse, thick fur on the lower back and tail, and a thick ruff around the neck and shoulders, especially in the winter. Most Kodiak red foxes are either cross foxes with a black/brown cross on the back and shoulders, or they are red in coloration. Silver foxes make up a smaller percentage of the population and are striking with black fur and silver-tipped guard hairs.

The red fox is the largest member of the true foxes. It has a head and body length that measures approximately 22 – 32 inches (56-82 cm), relatively short limbs, and a fluffy tail that is approximately 14 – 16 inches (36-43 cm) long. Adults weigh between 6 and 15 lbs. (2.7-6.8 kg), but the size and weight vary depending on the subspecies. The front paws of a red fox have five digits while the back feet have only four. Red foxes are capable of jumping over a six ft. (2 m) high fence and they can run nearly 30 mph (48.28 km/h).

The red fox has extremely good hearing and unlike other mammals, can hear low-frequency sounds very well, allowing it to detect small animals digging underground so it can dig the prey out of the dirt or snow. Although not as acute as its hearing, the red fox has a good sense of smell and binocular vision that reacts mainly to movement.

Anal and supra-caudal glands, as well as glands around the lips, jaws, and on the pads of the feet, allow foxes to leave and detect scents that may mark a territory or a food cache. Foxes use urine to mark their territories and food caches. A male raises one hind leg and sprays urine in front of him, while a female squats and sprays urine between her hind legs.

Red foxes are considered solitary, and they do not form packs like wolves. They often do live in family groups, though, with a dominant male and female and often a few subordinate foxes all sharing the same home range. Subordinate females may help guard, feed and care for the kits.

In Alaska, voles appear to be the food of choice for foxes, but the red fox is an omnivore and will eat fruits, berries, vegetation, insects, birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other small mammals. On Kodiak, it is common to see foxes on the beach feeding on sea urchins and other invertebrates and digging for worms. Red foxes are considered nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), but they may be active at any time of the day, and on Kodiak, they are often most visible on the beaches during the morning and evening low tides. When hunting a vole, a fox locates the vole by sound and then jumps in the air and lands on its target much like a cat does. An adult red fox will eat between one and two pounds (.5 to 1.0 kgs.) a day.

Autumn on Kodiak Island

October 4, 2015Kodiak Wildlife, Living in the wilderness on Kodiak IslandAutumn on Kodiak Island, Bald Eagle, Kodiak Alaska, Kodiak Bear, Living in the Alaskan Wilderness, Munsey's Bear Camp, red foxadmin

Autumn on Kodiak Island is a beautiful time of year, but I’ll be honest, it is not my favorite season.

Once the fuchsia petals have fallen from the fireweed, the leaves turn crimson, and the mountainsides are cloaked in a Christmas quilt of dark green and brilliant red. The cottonwood, alder, and birch leaves fade to yellow, and the abundant sedges along the shoreline gleam golden against the orange rock weed. High-bush cranberry leaves turn scarlet, and the fragrant scent of the sweet berries wafts on the breeze, mixed with the pungent odor of decaying salmon.

On a sunny day, autumn on Kodiak is breathtaking, especially if you view it while skimming the mountains in a plane. Unfortunately, there are not many sunny, calm days during a Kodiak autumn. Low-pressure systems pile one upon the next and roll across the Bering Sea and the Alaska Peninsula, slamming into Kodiak Island. One such storm in late August surprised us with 60 mph winds, and when the mooring for our 43-ft. cabin cruiser broke, we were forced to jump in our skiff and chase after and retrieve it in rough seas.

Our summer trips last into late September, because the bear viewing is very good then. Some years we are lucky, but other years, we are hit with gale-force winds and torrential rains. I enjoy guiding wildlife viewers and fishermen during our summer trips, but by the time the season ends, I usually am exhausted from battling the weather and dealing with boats on windy days. If September is bad, October is worse. October is one of the rainiest months on Kodiak Island, and between rain and wind, the leaves often fall before they have a chance to turn yellow, and soon, the mountainsides are brown, the ground slick with wet, rotting vegetation.

Bears are perhaps the best part about fall. As the temperature drops in late August, bears get serious about eating salmon. They concentrate on the many, small salmon streams around the island, and for a short period of time, they tolerate each other, as they work to build their fat layer to prepare for hibernation. It seems as if overnight, they lose their ratty, light-brown summer coats and their even, chestnut fur shines in the sunlight. We see cubs that were tiny and dependent on their mother only three months earlier, catching their first salmon at their mother’s prompting. Older cubs have improved their fishing techniques and have learned to assert themselves with other bears (with mom to back them up, of course).

Another autumn perk for me is watching the young birds learn to fly, especially in our stiff, fall winds. From baby eagles to sea gulls to terns, watching young birds learn to maneuver in the wind always makes me smile. Then there’s the young foxes who’ve left their dens and sit on the beach, curiously watching us as we pass in our boat. By September, they are nearly the same size as an adult, but their coats are shiny, even, and perfect, betraying their youth.

Kodiak Island is wild and untamed and is beautiful any time of the year, and I guess autumn isn’t that bad, if you can get past the weather.

Reproduction for Deer, Foxes, and Goats

June 7, 2015Kodiak Wildlife, Mountain Goat, Red Fox, Sitka black-tailed deerKodiak Alaska, Kodiak Island, mating and reproductive behavior, mountain goats, red fox, Sitka black-tailed deeradmin

Spring is an active time for Sitka black-tailed deer, red fox, and mountain goats on Kodiak, especially once the weather warms, the snow on the mountains begins to melt, and the vegetation starts to grow again. All three species give birth in the spring, and while we rarely see nannies with their kids, we will soon start seeing does and fawns, and in a couple of months we’ll see young fox kits as they begin to play outside their dens.

Sitka black-tailed deer bucks begin growing a new set of antlers in the spring, and I’ve seen several with little nubs beginning to grow. During the spring and summer, the antlers receive a rich supply of blood and are covered by a fine membrane called “velvet”. At this time, the antlers are very fragile and are vulnerable to cuts and bruises. By August, antler growth slows, and they begin to harden, and a few weeks later, antler growth stops, blood flow to the antlers ceases, and the velvet dries up and falls off.

Mating season on Kodiak for Sitka black-tailed deer occurs from mid-October to late November. The gestation period is six to seven months, so fawns are born from late May through June. Does begin breeding when they are two and continue to produce fawns until they are ten to twelve years old. Does between the ages of five and ten are in their prime and usually produce two fawns a year.

Newborn fawns weigh between 6.0 and 8.8 lbs. (2.7 to 4.0 kg), and for the first two weeks, a fawn produces no scent, allowing the doe to leave the fawn hidden and safe from predators, while she browses for food to rebuild her energy reserves after giving birth.

Red foxes breed in February and March on Kodiak. Right after mating, the female makes one or more dens, and the extra dens are used if the original is disturbed. The den is a hole in the ground that measures approximately 15 by 20 ft. (4.57m x6.1m) and may have several entrances. Inside the den, the female constructs a grass-lined nest where the babies are born. The litter is born after a gestation period of 51 to 54 days, and an average litter consists of four kits; although, litters as large as ten are not uncommon. Kits weigh 4 ounces (113 grams) at birth. They have fur but are blind, deaf, and toothless. A kit cannot regulate its body temperature when it is born, and the mother must remain with it all times for the first two to three weeks. During this time, the father or adult females bring food to the mother. If the mother dies before the kits are old enough to care for themselves, the father will take over as the primary provider. The kits’ eyes open eight to ten days after birth, and they leave the den for the first time about a month later. Kits begin hunting on their own when they are three months old.

Breeding season for mountain goats occurs between late October and early December on Kodiak. Mountain goats seem to avoid mating with relatives, and billies may travel long distances to find suitable mates. Males breed with several females, but nannies breed with only one male. Nannies do not give birth until they are at least four years old, and billies between the ages of five and ten do most of the breeding. Nannies give birth in late May after a gestation period of 180 days, and they normally have only one kid, but sometimes produce twins. Twinning is more common when goat populations spread into a new habitat with an abundant food supply, and as the goat population on Kodiak has increased and expanded its range, biologists have noticed more twinning than is normal. Nannies seek out an isolated area to give birth but then form nursery groups with other nannies and kids. The kid remains with its mother at least until the next breeding season and may stay with her for several years.

It is always a thrill to see the young of any species of wildlife. Babies are shy but curious as they learn about their surroundings, and often they are unaware of potential dangers. It is important to remember not to approach any wildlife, but especially mothers and their young, too closely. If the mother runs one way and the baby the other, they may never reunite, and the baby is not yet equipped with the knowledge and skills to survive on his own.

Check out these pages for more information on Sitka black-tailed deer, Red foxes, and mountain goats.