| The Modern English "fox" is derived from Old | | | | the sound becomes quieter. A cub is greeted with |
| English with the same spelling, the Old English word | | | | the quietest version of this sound. |
| itself comes from the Proto-Germanic word | | | | This monosyllabic sound is made by an adult to |
| "*fukh", compare German "Fuchs", Gothic "fauho", | | | | warn kits of danger. From far away it sounds like |
| Old Norse "foa" and Dutch "vos", which | | | | a sharp bark, but at closer range it resembles a |
| corresponds to the Proto-Indo-European word | | | | muffled cough, like a football rattle or a stick along |
| "*puk" meaning "tail" (compare Sanskrit "puccha" | | | | a picket fence. |
| meaning "tail" as well). The bushy tail is also the | | | | This is a stuttering, throaty noise made at |
| source of words for "fox" in Welsh ("llwynog", | | | | aggressive encounters. It is most frequently heard |
| from "llwyn" meaning "bush"). | | | | in the courting season, or when kits are at play. |
| Most foxes live 2 to 3 years but can survive for | | | | This is a long, drawn-out, monosyllabic, and rather |
| up to 10 years, or even longer, in captivity. Foxes | | | | eerie wail most commonly made during the |
| are generally smaller than other members of the | | | | breeding season; it is widely thought that it is |
| family Canidae such as wolves, jackals, and | | | | made by a vixen in heat summoning dog-foxes. |
| domestic dogs. Fox-like features typically include | | | | Contrary to common belief, however, it is also |
| an acute muzzle (a "fox face") and bushy tail. | | | | made by the males, evidently serving some other |
| Other physical characteristics vary according to | | | | purpose as well. This noise fits into neither the |
| their habitat. For example, the Desert Fox has | | | | contact nor the interaction group. |
| large ears and short fur, whereas the Arctic Fox | | | | Foxes are readily found in cities and cultivated |
| has small ears and thick, insulating fur. Another | | | | areas and (depending upon species) seem to |
| example is the Red Fox which has a typical | | | | adapt reasonably well to human presence. |
| auburn pelt ending normally with white marking. | | | | Red foxes have been introduced into Australia |
| Unlike many canids, foxes are usually not pack | | | | and some other countries for hunting. Australia |
| animals. Typically, they are solitary, opportunistic | | | | lacks similar carnivores, and introduced foxes prey |
| feeders that hunt live prey (especially rodents). | | | | on native wildlife, some to the point of extinction. |
| Using a pouncing technique practiced from an | | | | A similar introduction occurred in the 16-1700's in |
| early age, they are usually able to kill their prey | | | | America, where European Reds (Vulpes vulpes) |
| quickly. Foxes also gather a wide variety of other | | | | were brought to the colonies for fox hunting, |
| foods ranging from grasshoppers to fruit and | | | | where they decimated the American red fox |
| berries. | | | | (Vulpes veloxi) population through more |
| Foxes are normally extremely wary of humans | | | | aggressive hunting and breeding. Interbreeding |
| and are not kept as pets (with the exception of | | | | with American Reds, European Red's traits |
| the Fennec); however, the Silver Fox was | | | | eventually pervaded the genepool, leaving |
| successfully domesticated in Russia after a 45 | | | | European and American foxes now virtually |
| year selective breeding program. This selective | | | | identical. |
| breeding also resulted in physical traits appearing | | | | Other fox species do not adapt as well as the |
| that are frequently seen in domestic cats, dogs, | | | | European red fox, and are endangered in their |
| and other animals: pigmentation changes, floppy | | | | native environments. Key among these are the |
| ears, and curly tails. | | | | Crab-Eating fox and the African Bat-Eared fox. |
| Foxes do not come together in chorus like wolves | | | | Other foxes such as fennecs, are not |
| or coyotes. Fox families, however, keep in | | | | endangered, but will be if humans encroach |
| contact with a wide array of different sounds. | | | | further into their habitat. |
| These sounds grade into one another and span | | | | Foxes can also be helpful for agricultural purposes. |
| five octaves; each fox has its own | | | | They have been successfully employed to control |
| characteristically individual voice. Fox noises can be | | | | pests on fruit farms, where they leave the fruit |
| divided, with a few exceptions, into two different | | | | intact. |
| groups: contact sounds and interaction sounds. | | | | Historians believe foxes have been imported into |
| The former is used by foxes communicating over | | | | non-native environments long before the colonial |
| long distances, the latter in close quarters. | | | | era. The first example of the introduction of the |
| The best-known vulpine noise is a sort of barking | | | | fox into a new habitat by humans seems to be |
| that spans three to five syllables. "Conversations" | | | | Neolithic Cyprus. Stone carvings representing |
| made up of these noises often occur between | | | | foxes have been found in the early settlement of |
| widely spaced foxes. As their distance decreases, | | | | Göbekli Tepe in eastern Turkey. |