Red Fox

The Red Fox's distinctive red-brown fur and its long bushy tail are a familiar sight in towns and in the countryside all over the UK but they are absent from many Scottish islands. They are present in virtually every habitat including woodland, scrubland and mountains as well as in urban areas and especially residential suburbs and gardens.

Foxes are very adaptable mammals and have successfully established themselves due to their opportunistic, unfussy nature and their very varied diet. Foxes are very social animals and each group includes a dog, a vixen and cubs in the spring.

Foxes mate in December and January and between March and May the females give birth to a litter of 4 to 5 blind and deaf cubs covered in dark grey fur. They are independent by the autumn and some move away from their parents but others may remain to help rear the next litter of cubs.

Foxes eat almost anything from rabbits, field voles and berries to earthworms, insects and fruits. In towns, they scavenge food from rubbish bins, gardens and bird tables.

This Red Fox was a fortunate sighting as it sat out in the open enjoying some warm winter sunshine.

Date: 18th February 2006

Location: Laindon, Essex