Red fox

Vulpes vulpes Today, 3 October
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
now young dispersing 56 days
young dispersing Mammal here all year

The whole year

15 September – 28 November

the coastal calendar, shifted 14 days later for this region

Sitting the year outGetting readyYoung aboutYoung leaving

Where to look

Everywhere, but visible at dusk on field edges, olive terraces and town outskirts.

Worth knowing

One litter a year, and the timing barely moves: cubs are underground for six weeks and above ground by mid-May almost regardless of the weather. Autumn dispersal is when most road casualties happen β€” young animals crossing ground they have never seen.

Look it up

photos, sightings and recordings, off this site

Regions

where this species is on the list

Phase by phase

dates as they fall in the region chosen above
PhaseWhen LengthWhat it means
courting 3 January – 14 February 43 days Song, display, fighting, scent-marking β€” pairs forming or reaffirming. The screaming heard on winter nights is this, not an animal in distress.
pregnant 15 February – 2 April 47 days Pregnant. Nothing to see from outside, which is why the dates matter.
raising young 3 April – 28 May 56 days Dependent young in the nest, den or burrow, being fed.
young out of the den 29 May – 14 September 109 days Young out of the nest or den, but still fed and followed by the adults.
young dispersing 15 September – 28 November 75 days Young leaving for good, looking for a territory of their own.
going about the year 29 November – 2 January 35 days Feeding, holding territory, doing nothing the calendar singles out.

Other mammals in this region

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