Many young animals have special names that differentiate them from their adult counterparts, such as a fawn for a young deer or a calf for a baby cow. The term used for a young fox can sometimes cause confusion, given the wide range of names for the young of other canine family members. This specific naming convention helps discuss the early life stages of these creatures.
The Definitive Answer: What is a Fox Kit?
A baby fox is most commonly and accurately referred to as a kit. This term is widely accepted, especially for the young of the red fox, the most widespread fox species globally. Although “pup” and “cub” are sometimes used, “kit” is the more specific and prevalent term.
Newborn kits are entirely dependent on the vixen, as they are born blind and deaf. They are covered in fine, dark gray or brown fur, not yet the familiar reddish-orange of the adult fox. A red fox kit is very small at birth, typically weighing between 50 and 150 grams. The litter, usually consisting of three to six kits, is born within a sheltered den.
The Many Meanings of Kit in the Animal Kingdom
The term “kit” is not exclusively reserved for foxes; it is used for the offspring of several other small to medium-sized mammals. This shared terminology often applies to animals born helpless, sharing similar development patterns with a kitten, from which the word “kit” is derived.
The young of rabbits and ferrets are frequently called kits. The term also applies to the young of skunks, muskrats, wolverines, and raccoons. The consistent use of “kit” across these species helps categorize the young of smaller, altricial mammals that require significant parental care after birth.
Life in the Den: Early Development of Baby Foxes
Fox kits are born in an altricial state, meaning they are helpless and require constant care. For the first two weeks, the vixen remains with her litter to provide warmth and nourishment, relying on the male fox to bring her food. The kits’ eyes and ears open around 10 to 14 days after birth.
The initial blue eye color of the kits changes to the adult’s amber or brown hue between four and six weeks of age. Around four to five weeks old, the kits take their first steps outside the den, beginning their exploration phase. At this stage, the vixen discourages nursing, and the parents start bringing solid food back to the den to aid in the weaning process.
Weaning is usually completed by six to eight weeks, and the kits’ dark, woolly fur is replaced by a coat closer to the adult coloration. During the summer, the young foxes spend time playing with littermates, practicing hunting and social skills. By six to seven months old, usually in the autumn, the young foxes are fully grown and typically disperse from their family group to establish their own territories.