A baby fox is known as a “kit.” These young animals represent the initial stage in the life cycle of a fox, embodying a period of rapid growth and learning. Understanding the characteristics and specific terminology associated with baby foxes provides insight into their early lives and their place in the natural world.
Characteristics of Baby Foxes
Fox kits are born in the spring, after a gestation period of 52 days. They are born blind and deaf, weighing around 100 grams, and are covered in dark grey, woolly fur, which contrasts with the adult red coat. Within their first two weeks, their ears and eyes begin to open, with their eyes initially blue, changing to amber around one month.
The fur of a kit transforms from dark grey to brown within two weeks, with red fur emerging by one month. Kits begin to move unsteadily around three weeks old, and by four weeks, they start to venture outside the den, beginning to play and explore their immediate surroundings. Their playful behaviors are crucial for developing coordination and hunting skills.
Kits are dependent on their mother, the vixen, for warmth, nourishment, and protection. Both parents contribute to raising the young, with the male fox (dog fox) bringing food. Weaning occurs between six to eight weeks, though some kits may continue to suckle up to 14 weeks, as they transition to solid food brought by their parents. By late summer or early fall, young foxes become increasingly independent and disperse from the family unit to establish their own territories.
Understanding Fox Terminology
While “kit” is the most common term for a baby fox, “pup” and “cub” are also used interchangeably. These terms are not unique to foxes, as “kit” can also refer to the young of other animals like beavers, ferrets, or squirrels. Similarly, “cub” is used for bear and wolf young, while “pup” is also used for dog young.
When referring to adult foxes, specific terms denote their sex. An adult female fox is called a “vixen,” a term derived from Old English. An adult male fox is most commonly known as a “dog fox” or sometimes a “tod” or “reynard,” though these are less common.
For a group of foxes, several collective nouns are used. The most frequent terms include a “skulk” or a “leash” of foxes. The term “skulk” often reflects the secretive nature associated with foxes. While these terms describe any group of foxes, there isn’t a specific term exclusively for a group of baby foxes; one would simply refer to them as a “group of fox kits” or “a litter”.