Are “urban foxes” different from “rural Foxes”? |
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Both “urban foxes” and “rural Foxes” belong to the same animal species, the Red Fox. Basically, red foxes everywhere have the same habitat needs. But urban foxes tend to be used to the presence of humans and are less shy than foxes living out in the country. | |||
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As representatives of the same species urban foxes and rural foxes are essentially the same, they are Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Like wolves and domestic dogs, they are members of the canid family (canida) and are thus closely related to them.
Foxes: Masters of Adaptation Extremely adaptable, red foxes can survive in a wide variety of habitats ranging from semi-desert, tundra, alpine or coastal regions. Consequently, the red fox has become the most widely distributed predator in the world. Its great adaptability has enabled the red fox to settle in towns and cities. Owing to the more plentiful supply of food available in urban areas (compost heaps, refuse) than in the agricultural countryside (for more, cf. FAQ U2) , there is a higher density of foxes in urban areas but within smaller-sized territories. A fox - a stranger to the forest? The distinction between urban foxes and rural foxes is primarily geographical. Theoretically, any fox can easily roam for long distances in the night, covering ground in urban areas as well as in the surrounding rural landscape. Neverthe-less, there are urban foxes that spend their entire lives within urban and suburban areas, hunting, raising their cubs, without ever going into the woods. Such foxes show quite different behaviour from their country relatives. Urban foxes are often less shy and are quite happy to go for a daytime excursion. Related Questions Why do foxes live in urban areas? Why aren’t urban foxes returned to the forest? home | © |