General 12 fantastic facts about foxes By Rucha Devarchetti Published: May 29, 2019 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Menno Schaefer/Shutterstock Foxes are a lot like cats They may not be exactly related to each other, but foxes behave a lot like cats. They hunt for their prey in the same still (pouncing on them) and are very active post sunset. Like cats, they are expert at climbing up trees. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Zdenek Machacek/Shutterstock They use the earth’s magnetic field to hunt Foxes can detect the earth’s magnetic north and often use this as a marker when hunting prey. When their prey falls into this shadow as they see it, foxes generally know it’s time for dinner. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by NaturesMomentsuk/Shuttertock They run really fast It’s not a mystery if such a small animal can fast. Foxes have clocked in a speed of 65kmph. Do not try to outrun them, it definitely isn’t easy. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock They are really good parents Like most people with children, foxes are extremely protective of their young ones. Daddy Fox usually gets food for his young ones while Mommy Fox takes care of their well-being. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Stephan Olivier/Shutterstock Foxes are solitary animals Despite their well-nurtured start, foxes are lone rangers. If you have only seen them go solo, you aren’t wrong, they rarely are seen in a group. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock They have been a part of our stories for a long time If you grew up hearing stories about the clever fox, chances are that your parents and grandparents heard the same stories when they were young. Foxes have had a legendary role in a lot of our childhood stories. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Milan Zygmunt/Shutterstock They have different sounds for communication Most animals make the same noise every time but the clever fox has found a way to communicate better. It makes a range of sounds according to its moods. Maybe the next time we should listen better and try to understand what they are saying. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by outdoorsman/Shutterstock Arctic foxes can survive really cold weather We mean really cold. The foxes living in the northern hemisphere close to the North Pole can survive even in -70 degrees Celsius. Their pure white fur also helps them to camouflage in the snow. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by C.Lotongkum/Shutterstock Foxes breed in winter They usually breed from January to March, and Mommy Fox uses leaves to make their burrow comfortable for her young ones. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Andrew Balcombe/Shutterstock They are not fussy eaters Many foxes survive in cityscapes where prey is not easy to find. They are known to survive on wild berries, and even spiders and small birds if need be. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by Miroslav Hlavko/Shutterstock They are born blind Baby foxes are born blind, which is why their mothers are extremely protective about them. They gain their vision around 9-10 days after their birth. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Photo by WildMedia/Shutterstock Most foxes are red foxes If you have seen a lot of foxes, there is a high chance that they all were red foxes. Besides red, there are gray and white Arctic foxes. View in Fullscreen Related galleries 8 giant roadside landmarks to spot across Canada Meet 7 early risers of the wildlife world Perched on the Bay of Fundy, these curious, colourful cottages might be Nova Scotia’s best-kept secret 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 12 fantastic facts about foxes Often called sly and clever, foxes are a species that is much more than that. Their smartness has been known to humans for generations. No wonder that they have been a part of all our childhood stories about the wilderness. However, the fox is also a highly under-appreciated animal. Here are some facts about foxes that will make you see them differently. Related Story Two silver foxes play on a frozen pond in Nova Scotia