Animals & Tracks
Red fox - the cunning one
The red fox is our most common predator of all, and can be found in almost every environment. It is highly adaptable and settles in easily, as long as it finds…
Created: March 8, 2022 12:14 PM
Vulpes vulpes
Height: 35 - 50 cm
Weight: 3 - 10 kg
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is our most common predator of all, and can be found in almost every environment. It is highly adaptable and settles in easily, as long as it finds food. The fox eats small rodents, birds, beetles and other small creatures. It can also eat a fair amount of berries. If the fox finds the carcass of a dead animal, this too is welcome food.
The red fox establishes a territory, which it defends against other foxes of the same sex. A male fox usually has a larger area that overlaps with several females. He will try to mate with these during the winter’s mating season. Some red fox pairs may join together in the same den over several years. Here they both help to raise the young. The red fox is nonetheless not a monogamous species, and both sexes often have several partners outside the den.
The red fox is a small predator, and is harmless to humans.
Photo: Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen
Photo: Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen
Next steps
- Wildlife and tracks — the hub
- Badger — other small game
- Hare — the red fox’s main prey
- Small rodents — the red fox’s main prey
Learn more
- Artsdatabanken — species, status, Red List
- Miljødirektoratet — large carnivores — management
- NINA — the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research — research on Norwegian fauna
- Naturveilederen — Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen — nature interpretation