Red foxes are common and adaptable wild animals found across diverse landscapes. While these creatures often remain out of sight, their wide array of vocalizations offers a significant way to understand their presence and communication.
The Vocal Repertoire of Red Foxes
Red foxes possess a diverse vocal repertoire, encompassing over 20 distinct sounds. Two of the most commonly heard vocalizations are the bark and the scream, often due to their louder volume.
Red foxes produce barks that are short, sharp, and high-pitched, sometimes possessing a raspy quality. These can occur as a rapid series of three to five yapping sounds, occasionally concluding with a high-pitched squeal. The distinctive “vixen’s scream” is a loud, eerie, and drawn-out wailing sound.
Gekkering is a rapid chattering or clicking noise that has a guttural quality. Foxes also emit softer sounds, such as whimpers and whines. Growls are low-pitched vocalizations, characterized by a gruff tone. Occasionally, foxes make purring or churring sounds, which are low, warbling noises that sometimes involve a vibration from their stomach, reminiscent of a cat’s purr. Less frequently heard are howls and yelps, which are longer calls resembling a combination of a howl and a bark.
Context and Meaning of Fox Calls
Each vocalization produced by a red fox serves a particular purpose, reflecting their current situation or intent. Barks are primarily used for communication between individuals, particularly during the breeding season or to delineate territory. They can also function as an alarm call, warning others of potential threats or danger, and male foxes may bark in response to a female’s scream.
The chilling “vixen’s scream” is most frequently heard during the winter breeding season, from January to February. Females use this loud cry to attract potential mates, while males may also scream to assert their presence or defend their territory from rivals. Gekkering occurs during aggressive encounters, such as fights or playful interactions among foxes.
Whimpers and whines convey submission, serve as greetings, or are used by cubs to solicit attention from their mother. These softer sounds can also indicate that a fox feels threatened or is in danger. Growls function as a warning, signaling aggression or a perceived threat, and adult foxes may use them to direct their kits to food or a specific location. Purring or churring sounds are made when foxes are relaxed, content, or feel secure, and mother foxes use them to soothe their cubs during feeding or cuddling. Howls and yelps may indicate distress or serve as a territorial announcement.
Identifying Red Fox Sounds
Distinguishing red fox vocalizations from those of other wildlife can be challenging, but certain characteristics help in identification. Fox vocalizations have a higher pitch compared to those of domestic dogs. The “vixen’s scream,” in particular, is often mistaken for a human scream, especially that of a child, due to its unsettling quality. This sound can also be confused with the cry of a bobcat. Additionally, the “wow-wow-wow” contact call produced by foxes can sometimes be mistaken for a bird’s vocalization.
Their sounds are most frequently heard at night, as they are primarily nocturnal animals. Increased vocal activity is also observed during spring and autumn. Listeners are most likely to hear vocalizations after sunset, and young cubs can be particularly noisy when playing around dawn and dusk. Observing the context in which a sound is made, along with any accompanying body language, provides additional clues to interpreting its meaning.