Foxes are adaptable and intelligent mammals found across diverse landscapes around the world. These captivating creatures, known for their distinctive bushy tails and keen senses, have long held a place in human folklore and fascination. Understanding their biology and social structures offers insights into their successful presence in various ecosystems.
The Term “Vixen” and Other Fox Names
A female fox is most commonly referred to as a vixen. This term originates from the Old English word “fyxen,” which was the feminine form of “fox.” The shift from an “f” sound to a “v” sound at the beginning of the word is a unique linguistic survival from a southern English dialect, where “fox” was pronounced “vox.” The term “vixen” has been used to describe a female fox since at least the Middle English period.
A male fox is typically called a “dog fox,” a “tod,” or a “reynard.” The young of a fox are known as “kits,” “cubs,” or “pups.” Collective nouns for a group of foxes include a “skulk” or a “leash.” Their den is also called an “earth.”
Life and Role of a Female Fox
Female foxes, or vixens, play a central role in the family unit. While foxes are often observed alone, they form pair bonds for reproduction, typically between December and February in the Northern Hemisphere. The vixen enters a period of estrus, which lasts for about one to six days. The gestation period for a vixen is approximately 52 to 53 days.
Vixens usually give birth to a single litter each year, with the average litter size being four to five kits. Litter sizes can vary, with some species, like the Arctic fox, potentially having up to eleven kits. The vixen prepares a den, often called an “earth,” which she may dig herself or find in natural shelters like tree roots or rock crevices.
Newborn kits are dependent on their mother, born blind and deaf, and require her body heat. The male fox often assists by bringing food to the vixen while she remains with the young. Kits begin to emerge from the den around four to five weeks of age and are typically weaned by twelve weeks. In some social groups, non-breeding female offspring from previous litters may act as “helpers,” assisting the vixen by providing food and grooming.