Foxes Are Much More Surprising Than They Seem – Here Are 31 Pieces of Evidence (33 photos) (photo)

"When I first started photographing foxes, I thought I knew them: sweet, smart, a little cunning. But after fifteen years of fieldwork, I've realized one important thing: when it comes to foxes, the more you know, the less you understand," shares Roselyn Raymond. "They are faithful lovers, caring parents, skilled swimmers, and passionate conversationalists. They can 'see' magnetic fields, store food, and even... laugh."

1. They climb trees





Scientists are still debating whether foxes can retract their claws. But I've seen them climb trees like cats. They may not purr, but they can certainly climb.

2. They can swim (but prefer not to)



Foxes are excellent swimmers – they just don't see the point in doing so unless absolutely necessary.

3. They fall in love





Foxes often form strong, lifelong pair bonds and raise their offspring together. Some males become caring fathers. Others... explore their possibilities. In love, foxes are as similar to humans as possible.

4. They differ in color



Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are not only red, but also golden, gray, black, silver, and even white. Melanism and albinism create amazing variations, and rare fox hybrids have fur that combines red and black.

5. They are masters at hiding food scraps



Foxes dig a shallow hole, place the remains of their prey in it, bury it, and sometimes urinate to mark the spot.

6. They live in a world of smells



One spring, I saw a fox cub run past a tree and up a hill. A quarter of an hour later, his mother appeared and followed the same invisible path, following the scent.

7. They Hunt for the Future



When foxes hunt more than they can eat, it's not cruelty. It's instinct. They store prey for later, like we stock our freezers.

8. They are omnivores



Hares, berries, lizards, sandwiches, eggs, birds, and dragonflies.



9. They are family-oriented



Foxes hunt alone but raise their young together. During the first weeks of life, the mother nurses the young, the father provides food, and older siblings look after the younger ones. This phenomenon is called alloparenting.

10. There are no other people's fox cubs.



I've seen mother and daughter foxes nurse each other's cubs together. No one cares whose baby it is. After all, love is love.

11. They're not obsessed with cleanliness.



No wonder we Dutch call it sloddervos ("sloppy fox"). When the den becomes dirty, the fox moves to a new one. Problem solved.

12. 45 Subspecies



From the Arctic to the deserts, each fox subspecies is unique. They differ in size, color, and character. Only about fifty Sierra Nevada red foxes remain on Earth.

13. They Attack Like Professionals



The fox leaps gracefully, soars into the air, and lands softly on its nose in the snow. This graceful trick is called a mouse jump—a true art in motion.

14. They Use Magnetic Fields to Hunt



Science confirms: foxes "see" magnetic fields, which helps them locate prey beneath the snow.

15. Young males must leave the house



When sons grow up, they are kindly sent away to prevent inbreeding.

16. They bark



Their bark resembles a mixture of a scream and a hiccup. They use it to flirt, defend themselves, or call for loved ones.

17. They don't eat your pets



Foxes generally avoid cats and don't attack them. I've even seen cats command foxes. So don't believe the myths.

18. Their lives are short, but rich.



In the wild, foxes typically live 3-5 years. However, I did observe a fox that lived for nine years and likely raised forty cubs.

19. Foxes also have early mothers.



Some daughters have offspring early and raise the cubs with their mothers. Fox family bonds are flexible.

20. They are territorial, but tolerant.



Their territories can span from a few city blocks to forty square kilometers. Boundaries are marked by scents—like invisible fences.

21. They are not dangerous.



In ten years of close contact, I have never seen an unprovoked attack. Healthy wild foxes are usually shy, gentle, and very curious.

22. They helped eradicate rabies



Thanks to large-scale vaccination campaigns, including bait drops from airplanes, fox rabies has almost disappeared from Europe.

23. They can laugh



Foxes "laugh" when they play, and some even make sounds reminiscent of the giggles of human babies.

24. Hunting them doesn't work



Shooting foxes often contributes to their population growth. Nature itself maintains a balance—foxes regulate rodent populations. They fight pests, not become them.

25. They love snow



Fox fur provides excellent insulation from the cold. I've watched foxes curl up in snowdrifts into tight balls, like orange commas. Snow isn't a problem for them, it's a joy.

26. They "dance" instead of fighting



When arguing, foxes stand on their hind legs. They place their paws on each other's shoulders and open their mouths wide, demonstrating their strength. The one with the larger mouth usually wins.

27. They are drama queens



Foxes express all emotions, from quiet purrs to loud screams. They can be frightened, happy, indignant, or passionately desirous of something. When two foxes meet again, their cries of joy resemble the cries of long-lost lovers.

28. They fight Lyme disease



A healthy fox population reduces rodent populations, and therefore ticks. They can be our ally in the fight against Lyme disease.

29. Their hearing is better developed than their sense of smell



Foxes can hear the ticking of a clock from thirty-six meters away.

30. They are not exclusively nocturnal.



They have learned to avoid us. Where foxes feel safe, they roam day and night. Fear, not biology, has driven them to become nocturnal.

31. They have learned to survive.



Foxes live everywhere: in deserts, tundra, forests, and even in cities. Smart, adaptable, and endlessly curious, every fox I've met has taught me something new. They can be timid or courageous, calm or mischievous, but they're always full of life.

There's never a dull moment with a fox!