Fox Profile: Size, Behavior, and How to Recognize One
The red fox is one of our most adaptable wild animals. It is at home from the deep forest to the city. Here you'll find the most important facts about its size, diet, and behavior, and learn how to recognize its tracks.
Red Fox Profile
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Size (head-body) | 60 to 90 cm |
| Shoulder height | approx. 35 to 40 cm |
| Weight | 5 to 7 kg |
| Habitat | Forest, field, and settlement (synanthropic) |
| Diet | Omnivore: mice, fruits, carrion, waste |
| Activity | crepuscular and nocturnal |
| Mating season (Ranz) | January to February |
| Offspring | 4 to 6 pups in spring |
A Master of Adaptation
The fox is a classic synanthropic animal. It flexibly adjusts its diet and uses all kinds of cover, from burrows in the forest to shelters under garden sheds. Its call, a chattering bark, is mainly heard during the mating season in late winter.
Fox or Dog? How to Recognize its Tracks
Fox tracks are often confused with dog tracks. The difference lies in the gait: the fox laces, its paw prints are almost in a line, while the dog walks wider and more irregularly. The track itself is narrow, with the four toes close together. You can read more about this in our guide Identifying Wildlife Tracks.
Experience the Fox Life-Size
Whether in the garden, on a nature trail, or in the classroom: as a life-size standee, the size of the fox becomes truly tangible.
Brief Summary
- Head-body 60 to 90 cm, 5 to 7 kg
- Omnivore and synanthropic, from forest to city
- crepuscular and nocturnal
- Mating season in January and February, pups in spring
- Track: narrow, laced, four closely spaced toes