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From Aesop to the Grimm brothers, one creature has made its appearance in fables and fairy tales time and again. Opportunistic, territorial and elusive, the fox is not often spotted, as it does its best work at dark, not failing to fulfill the cunning role it’s given in folklore.
Both red and gray foxes reside in Southwest Virginia, with a few marked differences in appearance and size. Both, however, display similar behavior, and for residents of the New River Valley, a sighting is a chance to peek into the life of a creature we know is watching but is rarely seen.
Fox Terminology
A vixen is a female fox, whereas young are pups, kits, cubs, or, more obsoletely, whelps. If you think that’s interesting terminology, check this: Male foxes are tods, reynards or dogs. A group of foxes is called a skulk or leash, and the identifying feature of every fox – its tail – is a brush or a sweep. As for the foxes’ vocalization, their playful chatter is a “gekker.”
Foxes often utter a distinct, high-pitched scream, one that can be confused with the victim of a murder. The Metropolitan Police of London get calls about once every three weeks from concerned neighbors reporting that a murderous scream has been heard in their neighborhood, only to discover that the culprit was a fox (2015).
As an aside, several interesting uses have evolved from fox terminology. While today, being called a “vixen” is a compliment to a young, attractive woman, it was previously used to describe an ill-tempered and sullen lady. Being “foxy” means that you’re seen as sexy and alluring, while the compliment “silver fox” is given to a good-looking man with graying hair.
Viewing Foxes in Virginia
Although foxes exist all over the world, the most common type resides here in the New River Valley – the red fox. With 45 species of different colors in Asia and Africa, Virginian foxes tend to be of yellow-red or rusty brown with a cream-colored underside. The red fox is the largest of fox species, averaging 14 pounds. It’s the most well-known of the numerous types, making its appearance in fairy tales and tradition.
Gray foxes inhabit Virginia as well and have an ashy gray body and a light red to gray neck and sides. They’re skilled climbers, often using trees as a method of escape. Gray foxes weigh in at about eight pounds. Although foxes prefer scrubland or the edge of a forest, the creatures are known for their adaptability, meaning they very well might end up in urban spaces if forced to.
Fox cubs are born in a litter typically numbering four or five. They’re both blind and deaf at birth, and although the little fuzz balls may look adorable, they’ll soon learn to be just as aggressive as their elders.
When cubs are born, a hierarchy is established within several days. Certain foxes have dominance while others are subordinate. Competitive and aggressive, foxes know their territory well and will work to defend it. Foxes fight to gain food or during mating season, and while fatality from head or neck bites is rare, a bite to the foot could cause death for a fox unable to move and capture prey. Viewing a fight like this may seem entertaining, but please do so only from a distance.
Although foxes are generally nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), foxes can be viewed in the daylight hours, as they’re willing to go to great lengths to provide for themselves. They eat pretty much everything – mammals, insects, birds (and their eggs) and plants. Rabbits and mice are staples, but squirrels, muskrats, hens, quail and poultry are all fair game.
As a side note, while Western folklore depicts the fox as wily, cunning and sly, Asian cultures have their own portrayals. The Japanese spirit kitsune, the fox, plays the role of an intelligent, paranormal being, while other Asian folklore is saturated with varied depictions of the creature.
Fox and Human Interaction
Foxes are timid animals and unlikely to threaten or approach humans. However, in the case that a person is threatened by a fox, give the animal an escape route so that it doesn’t feel threatened by you. Be loud and make yourself big. While foxes are becoming increasingly urban and tamer, having a negative association with humans is a good thing.
To limit interaction with foxes, secure your garbage and be careful around holes under decks or patios where foxes might den. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, “the best way to prevent them from becoming a problem is to not give them a reason to come.”
They’re scrappy and tenacious, which means they will pick through your trash to get a meal, especially if they’re a town-dweller. No matter how cute they seem, do not feed them. Feeding foxes, like feeding any wild animals, will only tame the creatures and give them the cue that human interaction is beneficial. Going the extra mile to keep wild animals separate from humans benefits them – and us.
Text by Caitlyn Koser
Caitlyn Koser is a New River Valley freelance writer and homeschool student who gets classroom credit for her work with New River Valley Magazine and gets paid.
