The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), the most widely distributed fox species, possesses a vocal repertoire of surprising complexity and variety. Unlike the simple sounds often associated with other wildlife, the fox uses a wide range of vocalizations to navigate its social and territorial life. Studies have identified between 20 and 28 distinct types of calls, demonstrating a nuanced communication system. This extensive vocabulary helps foxes communicate over long distances, establish dominance, attract mates, and bond with their young.
Alarm, Warning, and Territorial Calls
The most frequently heard sounds in human-populated areas are the loud calls used for territorial defense and long-distance contact. These sounds include a distinct, short, and sharp “yapping” bark, sometimes called a Staccato bark. A fox’s bark is typically higher-pitched and shorter in duration, often delivered in a rapid series of three to five syllables, which may sound like “wow-wow-wow.” This “wow-bark” is a declaration of territory ownership, used to signal a fox’s presence to rivals across long distances.
Another distinct vocalization used during aggressive encounters is known as “gekkering,” a rapid, chattering, or clicking sound. Foxes use this aggressive sound when confronting a rival or during intense play. For immediate, close-range danger near a den, a parent fox may emit a faint, sharp, close-mouthed warning sound, sometimes described as a “cough.” This contrasts with the open-mouthed, louder bark used when the danger is farther away, which helps guide other foxes to safety.
Courtship, Mating, and Reproductive Sounds
The most unsettling and widely reported fox vocalization is the high-pitched, drawn-out sound commonly known as the “vixen’s scream.” This eerie wailing is most often heard during the breeding season, which occurs in the winter months. The piercing, siren-like scream serves as a long-distance advertisement, with the female (vixen) using it to announce her readiness and attract a mate.
The sound is so loud and high-frequency that it is frequently mistaken by human listeners for a distressed person or an animal in severe pain. Males, or dog foxes, also contribute to the winter chorus, using a sharp bark or a “scream-bark” to announce their presence and warn off competing males. The intense vocal activity during this season correlates with the dispersal of young adults and the heightened need for communication during mate selection and territorial establishment.
Close-Range and Pup Communication
In contrast to loud, external calls, foxes use a variety of quiet, softer sounds for intimate, close-range social bonding and communication within their family groups. These vocalizations are reserved for interactions between parents and their young, or between mated pairs. Young foxes, or kits, begin life with a high-pitched whine, which stimulates the mother to provide care.
As pups mature, the whining transitions into infantile barks and yelps, frequently heard during playful interactions. Adult foxes also use gentle sounds like cooing, purring, and whimpering-growls when greeting one another or exhibiting submissive behavior. A quiet, low-level growl may be used by a parent to signal to its kits that it is time to feed or to move toward the adult’s location. These subtle sounds are rarely heard by humans unless they are in very close proximity to a den site.