In the upcoming winter months, the fox breeding season will begin. For those of us living amongst foxes, this means the start of the ‘screaming’ season.
This sound can be heard throughout the year and is produced by both sexes but is often associated with winter when the females (vixens) call to find a mate.
At this time of year, most young foxes are now fully grown, and we often see animals dead on the road as they start to disperse to find a territory. They are also easier to see in urban areas as the nights start to draw in. We are concerned about possible declines in foxes in Scotland and in rural areas. Please help us find out how they are doing by going on an evening walk with our Mammal Mapper app and tell us what you see.
You can also record field signs using the Mammal Mapper App so you don’t necessarily have to see a fox. Fox scat (poo) is highly variable but is often pointed, very dark in colour and has a characteristic musky odour. As winter approaches you may find fox tracks in mud and snow. Footprints of a trotting fox usually form a straighter line than those of a dog and can be distinguished from dogs by drawing a line between outer and inner two toe pads, like this:
Source: https://www.woodland-ways.co.uk/blog/others/fox-or-dog/
For more information on foxes click here.
For a field signs factsheet click here.
