### The Fascinating World of Foxes: A Look Into Their Wildlife
Male foxes are one of the most intriguing parts of the animal kingdom. These small to medium sized mammals are known for intelligence and adaptability and may be found in a wide array of locations around the world. In this post we will discuss about the facial features, physical attributes, daily activities, diet, life cycle, speed of a fox in details.
#### Physical Characteristics
- **Length**: Foxes normally measure 45 to 90 centimeters (18 to 35 inches,) including the bushy tail, which is another 30 to 50 centimeters (12 to 20 inches.)
- **Height**: The most foxes stand at the shoulders, and measure about 35 to 50 centimeters (14 to 20 inches) tall.
- **Weight**: Foxes weigh 2 to 14 kilograms (4 to 31 pounds), depending on the species.
- **Speed**: Foxes can run up to 50 kilometres per hour and, like, many other animals, are considered better runners than we are.
#### Habitat and Distribution
Foxes are extremely adaptable and are found in a great variety of habitats, from forests, to grasslands, mountains, deserts, to even urban areas. The most common species, the red fox (*Vulpes vulpes*) has the widest geographical distribution of any Carnivora order member.
#### Daily and Behavioral Activities
Foxes are for the most part crepuscular or at night, to put it conversely. They often rest in dens during the day, but these may be burrows dug into the ground, or hollow logs in which to lodge. Foxes are solitary hunters, but may show a little family group during the breeding season.
#### Diet
Omnivorous, highly opportunistic feeders, foxes are. Their diet typically includes:
- Mice, rabbits and squirrels, as are small mammals
- Birds and their eggs
- Grasshoppers and beetles are some insects
- Fruits, berries, and all other plant material
- carrion and human leftovers in the urban areas
Such a diet allows them to adapt into different environments.
#### Lifecycle: Birth to Death
- **Mating and Birth**: Foxes usually mate in late winter. The female (called a vixen) takes about a 49 to 58 day gestation period after which she whelp (give birth) to a litter of 2 to 12 kits (baby foxes). The kits are blind and dependent on their mother for everything; warmth and nourishment.
- **Growth**: At about two weeks of age, kits open their eyes and at four to five weeks old they explore outside the den. Three months old they start learning how to hunt under became their parents.
- **Independence**: Young foxes are independent at about six months and disperse to create their territories.
- **Lifespan**: Foxes in the wild live 2 to 5 years, sometimes 10. In captivity protected from many of the threats, some can live up to 14 years.
#### Threats and Conservation
Threats to foxes include, amongst others, habitat loss, hunting and vehicle collisions. Many fox species are highly adaptable, however, not a single species is currently endangered in spite of these challenges. But some species, such as the Darwin’s fox (*Lycalopex fulvipes*) are critically endangered and need targeted conservation work.
#### Conclusion
What our foxes tell us is that wildlife is resilient and adaptable. So agile, so clever, so resourceful they are an irresistible object for study and to like. We know and defend these incredible creatures so that they remain in our world for generations of time to come.