red fox vulpes vulpes fight fighting combat submissive dominant foxtrot behaviour

How Foxes Communicate in the Wild 14

Fox Nation

close-up of a talking red fox
Portrait of a red fox talking with its ears, eyes, expression and vocalizations.

Just like you won’t understand a word, visiting a foreign country for the first time, it will take quite some time to master fox language.
But the longer your stay in Fox Nation, the more you will understand their conversations.
Of course you will never learn to speak flawless Fox, but understanding it will become increasingly easier.
At a certain point you just recognize that happy tail waggle, fearful grin or defiant attitude and more and more fox secrets will be revealed gradually .
Briefly said, foxes communicate in three different ways: by scent-marking, vocalizations and body language.

Scent Marking

Foxes can’t build fences, barbed wire or warning signs.
But by scent-marking (defecating, urinating) they spread more or less the same message: ‘This is me and this is my territory. Cute girls are very welcome, potential competitors certainly  are not!’

scent marking defecation urinating
Scentmarking red fox

Vocalizations

There are said to be as much as 28 different sounds in a fox repertoire, like barking, yelling, murmuring, shrieking and whining up. Some are used in a more personal contact (like between mother and cub) and others for distant calls (like warning potential candidates / intruders  during the mating season).
Because sounds say more than a 1000 words, check this link.

Body Language

Words can say a lot, but unlike these words, body language never lies.
Through ears, tail, facial expression and posture, a fox very clearly shows his intentions.
While a wild swinging tail is an obvious sign of threat, a cheerful waggling tail indicates enthusiasm.
A horizontal positioned tail, with the tip raised tells this fox is in for  some sweet fox loving.
Ears turned outwardly/backwardly mean playtime, while ears turned backwardly against the skull are the sign for a less friendly game. Maybe the subtle difference can be confusing for humans, but this body language speaks volumes to another fox:  ‘I’m  not amused and prepared  for a fierce confrontation.‘

Play fighting Fox Cubs

Cubs have to practice this language,too and extensively play fight in order to learn.
With erect ears, tail up and stiff legged walking they show dominance.
By crouching with the tail low to the ground and mouth agape they express submission.
Foxes, being wise animals, preferably avoid bloodshed.

Fox Trot

So, if f the opponent is not too impressive, measuring forces by pushing against each others flanks might be sufficient.
If the  conflict can’t be solved this way, coarser artillery will be deployed.
By standing on their hind legs, with open mouths and forelegs on the opponents shoulders, the foxes will try to overrule the enemy. This fox ‘dance’ is also known as the fox trot. More about this in one of my next posts..

Red foxes measuring mouth sizes and strengths by fighting
Red foxes communicating in a friendly fight by comparing mouth sizes.
young fox submissive dominance behaviour communication body language
Submissive young fox (low posture, arched back, pulled back ears)
fox cub kit submission helper female dominant interaction relation
Fox cub / kit showing submissive behaviour towards elder sister / helper
fox cub kit playfighting playing competing siblings
Two fox cubs / kits measuring forces by pushing against each others flanks. (playfighting)
submissive behaviour red fox young cub dominance vulpes vulpes
Submissive young fox
nipping begging food mother cub young red fox kit
Young fox begging for food by nipping at his mothers mouth.
red fox fight fighting ears mouth foxtrot agressive dominance submission territory
A fox fight: the ears flattened against the skull and the wide open mouths show this is serious

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