Everything's New

His journey begins at the end of fall. While shorter days are a blessing for the nocturnal hunter, prey becomes more difficult to find. Only instinct and the lessons learned in his youth can prepare him for the road ahead.

Cautiously he leaves the familiar sights, sounds and smells of the land he grew up on. The fox has never experienced winter, but he wanders in hope of marking a territory of his own.

Territory Dispute

Stepping through new pastures, it's likely an inexperienced fox will miss the scents marking occupied territory. Adult foxes often tolerate quick trips through their boundaries, but the smell of a newcomer hanging around means trouble. A territorial yell from the established fox sends fear through the young male, and a skirmish begins.

When the two meet, they rear back on their hind legs, pushing at each other with their forepaws. This was a game practiced in childhood, but barred teeth and flat ears prove this is no time for play. Foxes rarely injure each other severely, instead they try to topple one another to assert dominance. It might be repeated several times, with chases and snapping in between, accompanied by much screaming.

In most cases the younger fox is run off the territory, and his search for a home continues. Although his ego might be bruised, he'll be eager to try again elsewhere. Winter is a restless time for foxes between competition for mates, food, and territory.

A Place to Call Home

During his exploration, the young fox is driven to seek out a parish similar to his birth place. Red foxes prefer "edge territory", such as where a forest or town meets a field or marsh, because this is where a greater diversity of plants and animals are found.

While raising kits isn't on his mind yet, instincts tell him to find a place supportive of a family. Fresh water, food and security are paramount, with a range anywhere from 25 acres to 5 miles. In colder climates, his range might even extend 40 miles, to encompass enough food to feed offspring.

As the new year approaches, so do neighboring vixens who might be on their own for the first time. Now that he has a territory, the young dog fox seeks out these visitors in hopes of finding a mate.