Page 47 - World of Animals - Issue #36

The burrowers

A fox’s den Entrance
The entrance to a fox’s earth
is usually taller than it is wide,
with a gap of approximately
20cm (7.9in) at its widest point.
Foxes are cunning enough to 20cm (7.9in) at its widest point.
sniff out burrowing opportunities
in human environments

Even urban foxes need to find a place to Den
burrow when mating season comes around. The burrow is a protective
Their underground dens (known as earths) den for the fox’s offspring.

are a safe haven for newborn fox kits where Excess soil is cleared during Ramp
Fox burrows are not
springtime to make room
they remain with their mother for two weeks for kits to eat and play. particularly complex.
while the father hunts and brings back food. A gradually sloping
As foxes have adapted to live in towns underground ramp is
and cities, they are often restricted in terms all they need to reach
their dens, which are
of places to make their burrows. Many end usually around 2m
up making their dens in people’s gardens; (6.6 ) deep.

in flower beds, compost heaps and under

garages and sheds. You may welcome the
sight of cute fox kits in your garden, but
avoid getting too close – foxes who lose
their fear of humans often end up sneaking
into homes, usually making a right old mess.
“Fox earths are a safe Food store

haven for newborn Cavities branching off from the main
ramp are used to store food. Scraps of
food are also commonly found around
fox kits” the earth entrance.

How to
identify a
fox’s den

A single entrance hole is
usually all you’ll see of a
fox’s earth.
The hole will be roughly
20cm (7.9in) in diameter,
and you may find food

remains or a musty smell
outside it when the den is
occupied.
Earths can be found
almost everywhere, but
are particularly common in
hillocks or banks.
Earths are most likely to
be occupied in spring,
when breeding occurs.

Fox kits stay
underground with their
mother until they are
old enough to explore
the outside world

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