Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is our most common wild animal. Its slender body is protected from bad weather by a thick orange-brown coat, which on the belly and at the tip of the tail transitions to a dirty white color. It has relatively short legs and a long, bushy tail. It weighs between five and seven kilograms, with males significantly larger than females.
The proverbially sly fox does not fear humans and even lives in cities. It is an extremely adaptable species that thrives just as well in forests, cultural landscapes, and suburbs. Its home range measures between 2.5 and 15 square kilometres.
The fox is generally a solitary animal that goes out to search for food at dusk. It is an omnivore that eats anything edible, but prefers to prey on rodents.
The fox inhabits almost all of Europe, only on some islands is it absent. Fox dens – branched burrows with living quarters and storage – are usually dug into a slope under a tree or a stump, and for its home sometimes uses an abandoned lair. Cubs are reared in spring, and in autumn they are already independent. The lifespan of foxes is 10 to 12 years. This charming predator from the dog family is also the most important carrier of rabies, which occurs in almost all of Slovenia.
