Vulpes vulpes

Details

Introduction to Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox)

Chinese name: Red fox
Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes
Aliases: Red fox, fire fox, big fox
Classification status: Mammalia → Carnivora → Canidae → Vulpes
Protection level:

• International (IUCN): Least Concern

• China: Listed as a "three-have" protected animal (terrestrial wild animals with important ecological, scientific and social values)

1. Appearance characteristics

● Image characteristics:

• The face is pointed and long, with sharp eyes, alert and agile;

• The tail is fluffy and thick, which is an important tool for balancing the body and keeping warm;

• The limbs are black, and the edges of the ears are also mostly black, sometimes showing the style of "glove feet".

2. Distribution and Habitat

● Extremely wide distribution range (the most widely distributed wild carnivore):

• Northern Hemisphere: Europe, North Africa, Asia, North America;

• Distribution in China: Northeast, Northwest, North China, East China, Sichuan Plateau, etc.;

• Australia: introduced and became an invasive species

● Diverse habitats:

• Forests, grasslands, farmlands, urban edges, deserts and even polar tundra;

• It has strong adaptability and can survive well in human activity areas.

3. Living habits

● Diet

• Omnivorous, carnivorous:

• Rodents, small mammals (rabbits, voles, etc.)

• Birds, bird eggs, insects, reptiles

• Fruits, berries, plant roots

• Sometimes they also eat corpses or human garbage

• Food storage behavior: They will hide excess food for later use.

● Behavioral characteristics

• Mostly nocturnal, but also active at dusk or during the day in areas with frequent human activities;

• Flexible, good at running and jumping, good at hiding and raiding prey;

• Often active in family units or alone, not living in groups;

• Transmit information through calls, scent glands and tail postures.

● Calls

• There are a variety of calls, about 40 different calls for different purposes, such as:

• Hoarse roar (courtship)

• Sharp chirping (warning)

• Howling or whimpering (communication)

IV. Reproduction characteristics

• Usually parents raise the cubs;

• After birth, the fox cubs live in caves, and gradually disperse to establish new territories as they grow up.

V. Ecological significance and natural enemies

● Ecological role

• Control rodent and insect populations;

• Is an important "medium-sized predator" in the middle of the food chain;

• Provides food sources for birds of prey, large cats, wolves, bears, etc.

● Natural enemies and threats

• Young foxes are vulnerable to attacks by eagles, hawks and other birds of prey;

• The main natural enemies of adult red foxes are wolves, dogs and bears;

• Humans pose the greatest threat, such as:

• Hunting for skins;

• Poison bait or traps;

• Habitat destruction;

• Diseases (such as rabies, canine distemper, etc.).

VI. Relationship with humans

● Positive:

• Often portrayed as a "clever and cunning" character in folk tales and culture;

• In some areas, as a "natural assistant" for rodent control;

• Fur was once an important source of fur (such as the silver fox population);

• Star species in zoos and wildlife photography.

● Negative:

• It attacks poultry in some agricultural areas;

• It is a serious invasive species in Australia and poses a threat to native wildlife.

VII. Comparison with other foxes