The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) possesses a surprisingly complex and varied vocal repertoire. Researchers have identified nearly 30 distinct vocalizations used by adult foxes to communicate. This system allows foxes to relay everything from territorial warnings and mating invitations to social bonding signals, all of which are particularly noticeable at night. Decoding these high-pitched and sometimes unsettling noises is key to understanding the social dynamics of this widespread canid species.
The Purpose of the Bark: Territorial and Alert Calls
The fox bark is one of the most frequently heard vocalizations, characterized by its sharp, high-pitched, and rapid delivery, sounding quite distinct from a domestic dog’s bark. This vocalization serves primarily as a long-distance communication tool, allowing foxes to maintain contact across their home range. The structure of the bark often consists of a quick series of short elements. These contact calls are thought to function as a form of identification, enabling a fox to recognize family members or neighbors from their acoustic signature.
The bark also functions as a signal of territorial ownership and is used to announce a fox’s location. Variations in the bark’s acoustic properties change its meaning, such as a short, intense bark used specifically for alarm or danger. Parents use a warning call, which sounds like a sharp cough up close, to alert their kits to a potential threat, ensuring the young quickly take cover while the adult discourages an intruder.
The Vixen’s Scream and Howls: Distress and Mating Signals
The fox scream is a loud, drawn-out wailing. This intense vocalization is most prevalent during the winter months, coinciding with the red fox mating season, which typically occurs in January. The vixen, or female fox, uses this piercing sound to advertise her readiness to breed and to attract a male fox.
While the scream is primarily associated with the female’s mating call, it can also be used by both sexes during aggressive encounters. When two foxes engage in a fight, the high-pitched, screaming chatter, sometimes called “gekkering,” reflects the intensity of the conflict. Additionally, any fox experiencing severe pain or distress, such as from injury or being trapped, will emit a high-volume scream. The less common, drawn-out howl is sometimes heard as a variation of the scream or a longer bark, serving as an extended call for long-distance communication or distress.
Soft Communication: Whines, Mews, and Purrs
A range of softer sounds is used for intimate, close-range social interactions. Whines and whimpers are commonly used by adult foxes as appeasement signals, often observed during courtship or when a subordinate animal approaches a dominant one. These sounds communicate submission, helping to maintain social cohesion within a family group.
Kits also use specialized soft calls, such as the “mew,” which is a small, chirping sound used to solicit attention or food from the mother. A nursing vixen will often respond to her young with a low growl, sometimes described as a “churr” or “gurgle,” to summon her cubs or signal that the area is safe. On rare occasions, a fox will produce a soft, cat-like purring sound, which is thought to be an expression of contentment in a relaxed state, completing the full spectrum of their emotional communication.