Red fox

( Vulpes vulpes )

Red foxes come in many colors. The common red fox is reddish-brown on the body and white on the chest and belly. No matter what color-variant the fox is, the tip of the tail is always white. Foxes are by no means picky and eat almost anything. The fox\’s favorite food is small rodents, such as mice, but it also eats birds, insects and fruit. Hence, red foxes are incredibly adaptable and live almost everywhere – even in the middle of the city.

Hear the Red fox

Weight

6-11 kg

Habitat

Forest

Diet

Carnivore

Offspring

3-12 puppies

Get to know Red fox

Classification: Mammals

Order: Predators

Family: Canidae

Distribution: Most of Europe

Habitat: Forest

Lifespan: In the wild 5 years. In captivity 10-12 years

Body length: 70 cm + 40 cm tail

Height at the shoulder: 50 cm

Weight: Male: 8-11 kg Female: 6-8 kg

Sexual maturity: 1 year

Oestrus: January and February

Gestation: 52-53 days

Number of offspring: 3-12 puppies, usually 4-7 each year

Diet: Carnivore; opportunist — all smaller mammals, birds and bird eggs, reptiles, fish, hares, deer, carrion, waste from hunting and household

Habitat

The red fox is one of the most adaptable predators and can live in a wide range of natural environments. It thrives in forests, open fields, agricultural landscapes, and green areas within cities. The fox prefers habitats that provide access to food, shelter, and suitable places to dig its den.

Fox dens are typically dug into slopes, under vegetation, or beneath buildings, where the ground is dry and undisturbed. The den serves as a hiding place and as a safe space for raising pups. Red foxes are mainly active at dusk and during the night, which helps them avoid human activity.

The red fox is an omnivore and makes use of many different food sources, including mice, birds, insects, fruit, and human food waste. Its ability to shift diet based on what is available allows it to survive in both natural and human-altered landscapes.

Distribution

The red fox is widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere and is found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. It is one of the most adaptable carnivores in the world and thrives in a wide range of environments—from forests and open farmland to suburbs and urban areas.

In Denmark, the red fox is common across the entire country, both in rural and urban settings. It lives in woodlands, hedgerows, agricultural land, and residential neighborhoods, taking advantage of food waste and easy access to prey. In recent years, urban foxes have become more visible, often active at night in parks and gardens.
The Danish fox population was severely affected by sarcoptic mange in the 1980s and 1990s, which caused a significant decline. However, the population has since recovered, and the red fox is now considered a stable and widespread part of Danish wildlife.

Djursland

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the most widespread predators in Denmark and has been part of the native fauna for approximately 11,000 years. The oldest fox remains in Denmark date back to the early Stone Age, showing that foxes have coexisted with humans since the end of the last Ice Age.

On Djursland, the red fox thrives in the varied landscape of forests, fields, and hedgerows. It is particularly common in open farmland and along forest edges, where it often digs its den under tree roots, on slopes, or in undisturbed areas.

If you’d like to see a wild fox, it requires patience and the right timing. Foxes are mostly active at dusk and during the night, but they can occasionally be seen in daylight—especially in spring when parents are busy feeding their pups. Good places to look include the edges of fields or forest paths in the quiet hours of the early morning or around sunset. Bring binoculars, stay still, and avoid sudden movements—foxes are alert and tend to avoid humans.
Although the red fox is not endangered in Denmark, the population has declined slightly since 2007. Nevertheless, it remains a common and important species in the ecosystem—also here on Djursland.

Distribution

Djursland

The red fox enclosure

The red fox enclosure at Scandinavian Wildlife Park was built in 1998 and covers 1,040 m². The enclosure is designed to allow the foxes to behave as naturally as possible. They can dig their own dens and tunnels, just like they would in the wild.

There are rocks, trees, and platforms in the enclosure, allowing the foxes to climb and get a good overview of their surroundings. This provides them with an exciting and varied environment where they can move freely and use their senses. At the same time, visitors get a great opportunity to see how foxes live.

The residents

At Scandinavian Wildlife Park, there are 4 red foxes. Three of them are females that originally came from fox farms. As a result, they look quite different from wild foxes – for example, their fur is longer, giving them a slightly more fluffy appearance.

The fourth fox is a male that came from the wild and was brought to wildlife care as a pup. He is therefore very shy and rarely comes out during the park’s opening hours.

Name:

Mille

Born:

01.03.2020

Gender:

Hun

Mille moved into Scandinavian Wildlife Park in 2020 together with Maude and Frk. Madsen. All three came from a fox farm.

Name:

Maude

Born:

01.03.2020

Gender:

Hun

Maude can be recognized from the two other females by having the darkest color on her chest.

Name:

Frk. Madsen

Born:

01.03.2020

Gender:

Hun

Frk. Madsen has a completely white chest and is easy to distinguish from the other females.

Name:

Vuk

Born:

29.03.2022

Gender:

Han

Vuk moved into the park in 2023. He is a wild fox that was brought to wildlife care and is therefore very shy during park opening hours. Once the last visitors have gone home, he comes out and thrives together with the three other foxes.

Red fox

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Weight

Habitat

Diet

Offspring

Habitat

Distribution

Djursland

Distribution

Djursland

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Red fox

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Weight

Habitat

Diet

Offspring

Habitat

Distribution

Djursland

Distribution

Djursland

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