FOX DISTRIBUTION

The fox is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, and is one of the most successful predators because its unique ability to adapt enables it to coexist with man. Just think of the ‘urban fox’ as we call it, which confidently prowls the streets and residential neighbourhoods, feeding off all the refuse we humans discard. The fox’s superb adaptability however has had catastrophic consequences in Australia where it has been introduced. It has spread over vast areas, and has been blamed for the extinction of several indigenous animal species. Therefore, the fox has now earned itself a place on the list of the world’s 100 worst invasive species.

THE FOX IN DENMARK

In Denmark, the fox is found all over the country except on Bornholm and on some smaller islands. It does not require a lot of its biotopes, as it quickly adapts, providing there is enough food. Even though its teeth clearly indicate that it is a carnivore, it also likes berries and other vegetable foods. Small rodents make up the bulk of the fox’s diet, but it eats everything from insects to fawns. And if the opportunity arises, it is not averse to chickens, piglets and lambs, much to the farmer’s irritation.

Lightweight skeleton

The coat and its colouring make the fox appear larger than it actually is, as it only weighs 6-12 kg and measures 35-40 cm over the shoulders. The body itself is about 50-90 cm long, the tail is approx. 30-50 cm, which gives it a total length of 90-140 cm. Killing a fox weighing more than 10 kg in Denmark is quite an achievement. In Scotland, however, the record is 17.2 kg, and the fox measured 140 cm. When a fox is standing in the snow for example, it looks deceptively large. Yet it weighs only half as much as a springer spaniel. Its low weight is due to the fact that the fox’s bones are about 30 per cent lighter than those of a dog. Its thick coat also gives it more bulk.

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An agile killer

The fox’s eyesight and hearing are extremely well developed. In fact, the fox can hear a mouse 100 m away, and when in winter it is hunting for mice beneath the snow, it is its sense of hearing that secures the kill. The fox moves its head from side to side to pinpoint exactly where the mouse is, and then jumps up high in the air before diving into the snow to catch its prey. The mating season is in January/February, when the vixen emits strong scents which attract male foxes, called dogs, from near and far. During this period, it is possible to hear foxes howling and barking, which is the males competing between themselves to court a female. The vixen is pregnant for about 50 days, and the kits are born in an ‘earth’ in a slope or hill, or in one of the growing number of artificial earths which hunters establish to ensure that their burrowing dogs are not buried when hunting for foxes. This is a real and not unknown risk in natural earths. There are even a few cases where an excavator has been brought in to save a dachshund. A fox litter usually has 4-8 kits. Like dogs, they are blind at birth. The male fox participates during the breeding season by bringing food to the vixen and the kits. At eight weeks, the kits start exploring the area around the earth, leaving it for good in the autumn.

Shush!

To hit the fox, you have to remember to be completely quiet, either if you’re standing at a post or trying to entice the fox with calls. Decoy hunting for foxes is also extremely exciting. Here, you sit concealed and use a caller which makes a sound like a wounded animal that’s whimpering. If the fox is nearby, and if you are lucky and skilled, it may suddenly appear, and then the challenge is to bring your rifle to bear and get the fox in your sights without being noticed. On the other hand, it is not quite as difficult to lure fox kits in the summer. The fox kits are curious and not nearly as vigilant as adult foxes, but you still have to remember to be quiet.

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