Where Do Foxes Sleep At Night?
Foxes find somewhere to sleep each day – but they don’t have one single spot. They will sleep in any number of different places including close to their dens in the open air when it is extremely hot, raining, or when they are raising their fox cubs.
We always imagine foxes curled up all cozy in their dens on a bed of leaves – with their gorgeous fluffy tail tucked over their noses. But this isn’t always the case.
Firstly, foxes are mostly nocturnal – which means they are up and hunting at night – no time to sleep when you have mice and voles to catch. Or chicken coops to raid. So they sleep during the day instead.
Secondly, most foxes actually prefer to sleep in the open or part-open. It depends where they are though, as some red foxes may be in very busy urban areas, and arctic foxes can be in very exposed locations. They do however have their tails though – that part was true. Not only does it act as a blanket for the body and feet – it can cover the nose too. This ‘heat filter’ warms the air before it enters the body – greatly improving heat retention and saving energy overall. A great survival tactic.
Quite the opposite is true for desert foxes like the Fennec Foxes (Vulpes zerda) – living in North Africa where they can’t sleep out in the open area during the day as it is just too hot. These foxes will sleep in holes and dens during the day to stay cool and keep their body temperature down. They also breathe faster too when asleep to keep their temperatures low.
Why Do Foxes Make Dens?
Foxes make a main den for birthing and raising their pups/kits – so these have to be in a good spot. This will be their natal den and will need to be in a location that won’t be disturbed for several months ideally.
Foxes will also have other smaller dens within their home range that they will use in bad weather (foxes don’t like to be wet) and cache food. They often inherit these dens or steal them from other animals (hopefully already long gone!).
These various dens will need to be dry or in some way protected from the elements. Thick woodland, under trees, in trees, amongst rocky crevices, under houses, in discarded rubble piles or abandoned structures – all are fair game for foxes. The dens have to be easy to get in and out of – and with entrances that allow them to watch for danger – and escape it. Not that a fox has many predators – but they are very wary critters and prefer to run rather than fight.
Depending on the fox and location – these dens can be very complex. Some can be over 20ft deep and 50ft long – and some can have more than a dozen entrances for safety and ventilation. Often these entrances are concealed by vegetation, but they are quite often simply on top of a loose mound of soil from the excavation. Always needing home improvements.
Where do Foxes Make Their Dens?
There are a few rules of thumb – but foxes will make dens where they can. Usually in places that provide protection from the elements and from predators – such as under large rocks, or in holes dug by other animals (e.g., badgers, woodchucks). In urban areas, foxes may use burrows dug by other animals, or build dens in abandoned buildings, attics, and garages.
Foxes may also inherit their mother fox dens they’ve set up in previous years. It is common for two foxes to use two or more dens to rear several youngsters and save scraps.
How Big Are Fox Den Sites?
Fox dens range from 6 to 75 feet in length, with the hole in the middle being 3 to 8 feet deep of dug-out tunnels. Smaller dens are just 3 feet deep and will usually have 1–2 entrances while larger dens are 8 feet deep and usually have multiple entrances.
How Can You Tell If It’s a Fox Den?
Fox dens are usually found in secluded places and foxes are especially good at moving about undetected in those places. Dens are generally located in forested areas and can be identified by the extent of den opening and tracks in the dirt, as well as an unmistakable odor of fox urine.
While adult foxes may have a different latrine area from where they sleep at night, foxes will scent up their areas with their urine and the area surrounding the den will have an unmistakable and potent urine scent. Bones and feathers from killed animals are likely to be found around the fox den.
Foxes will also den in open areas (e.g. Do Foxes Sleep In Trees?
Some foxes – namely the Gray Foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) – are famous for their tree-climbing abilities. One of only 3 canid species that regularly climb and sleep in trees – this truly is a unique fox. With very sharp curved claws – a feature more commonly found in felines – this fox can be found sleeping over 30ft up in the trees.
Scaling trees – straight up the trunk – with ease – they can easily climb vertically 20ft without any issues. They scramble around in trees, leaping between branches of different trees to stay off the ground. Often climbing to be out of reach of predators – they can then descend gradually by bounding between lower and lower branches or shimmy themselves down feet-first when they feel safe again.
Red foxes (vulpes vulpes) have on occasion been found sleeping or sitting in trees, but these need to have lower branches for them to be able to do so. Using thick level branches and contorted larger trees, these less-agile foxes can still be found in trees.
What Are Foxes Sleeping Habits?
Foxes will sleep aboveground in the open if in danger or in the event of severe weather. Most foxes sleep in proximity to their burrows under brush or in lowly regions to be hidden from predators and to easily get away.
Most foxes possess more than one den inside their region or its surrounding region, with one usually being a specialized birthing den to raise their young ones. The female foxes rest in this den and sleep with the baby foxes while the male guards the territory for predators and supplies for the family.
Do Foxes Sleep in the Day or Night?
Foxes are crepuscular animals, meaning they hunt most frequently at dawn and dusk. Usually, red foxes go to sleep shortly after sunrise and fall asleep until after nightfall. However, while they are most active at night for hunting purposes, foxes are not strictly nocturnal.
Foxes commonly exhibit cathemeral behavior, being active both day and night, and it is not unusual to see foxes out hunting during the daytime in urban areas.
How Much Do Foxes Sleep?
Foxes sleep for a proportionately longer time than many other mammals and are one of the few species to be active all year round. They can often be seen sleeping during day time with their eyes closed, even on hot days.
Foxes will sleep eight hours or more in a single day in their territory in the wild, and will usually sleep for about 10 clock hours within that period. Red foxes will sleep for around 12 to 14 hours each day in winter.
Do Foxes Hibernate?
Due to the amazing adaptations of foxes across the planet and their flexible diet – they haven’t evolved the need to hibernate. Even though they live in very cold climates in places – it is lack of food rather than low temperatures that lead to a species having to hibernate. And foxes don’t have a problem finding food at any time.
Needless to say, as foxes don’t have the biological prowess to actually hibernate fully (totally switch off) they must stay awake and feed throughout the winter to survive. They can’t suddenly try it one year if it gets too tough. Their survival strategy was chosen a long time ago and they have to stick with it.
What Types of Foxes Live in North America?
There are five main types of fox species that live in North America: the red fox, the Arctic fox, the gray fox, the kit fox, and the swift fox. The red fox is by far the most common type of fox in North America, and it can be found in almost every type of habitat. The other four types of foxes are less common and are mostly found in specific habitats.
- The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is only found in very cold climates, such as northern Canada and Alaska. They have thick coat fur that helps them to survive in these cold environments.
- Gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are mostly found in forests and wooded areas. They are good climbers and often build their dens high up in trees.
- The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) live in dry desert areas and grasslands. They have large ears that help them to stay cool in these hot environments.
- The red fox (vulpes vulpes) The Red Fox is a resident of all the mainland states except for Florida. This mammal can be found in Canada in the arctic tundra, forests, and countryside. They have reddish-orange fur which helps them to blend in with their surroundings. The Red Fox population is the biggest of all the foxes in the United States.
- The swift fox (Vulpes velox) lives in arid environments. They are good burrowers and dig underground tunnels to live in. The yellow-throated marten has long, dark brown fur and lives in mountainous regions. The Arctic fox is only found in very cold climates, such as northern Canada and Alaska.
Can Foxes Be Dangerous If They Sleep Near My House?
If there are foxes around your house, it is important to be cautious. While they usually avoid humans, if they feel threatened or cornered, they may become defensive. It is best to keep your distance and ensure that your pets and children are protected.
What are Urban Foxes?
Urban foxes are a common sight in many cities across the world. But what are these creatures, and where do they come from?
Urban foxes are an outcome of the part of modern man that separates the world from the wild. To retain this newly made accommodation, foxes have revealed themselves to city scavengers.
In urban areas, foxes typically make their dens in abandoned buildings or other structures in urban settings. They will also often sleep in trees or out in the open if there is no shelter available. Foxes are mostly nocturnal creatures, so you’re more likely to see them at night than during the day.
