The sly, secretive fox is the ultimate survivor

Despite many perils, the fox survives in the Ox Mountains. It seems at times that the tougher it gets for the fox, the better he is able to cope with the changes and hardships that are hurled at him. Much maligned in some circles, persecuted in others, the fox still maintains an air of secrecy and mystery. He is our ultimate survivor.

Earliest times 

Writing in 2014, Kat Kerlin of UC Davis (California), takes us back to the fox’s earliest origins. Her study, Around the World in 400,000 years: The Journey of the Red Fox, contains some great information.

The new genetic research further suggests that the first red foxes originated in the Middle East before beginning their journey of colonisation across Eurasia to Siberia, across the Bering Strait and into North America. During the red foxes’ journey over millennia, ice sheet formation and fluctuating temperatures and sea levels offered periods of isolation and reconnection, impacting their global distribution.

While the fox is old, his ancient ancestors are older. Foxes are part of a family called canidae, which includes dogs, wolves, and jackals. Scientists agree that these species share a common ancestor, a dog-like creature called Prohesperocyon that lived about 40 million years ago.

The fox has been in Ireland for at least 5,000 years and it may even be one of the first post-glacial settlers on this island as far back as 10,000 years ago. One of the most successful small predators in the world, foxes have spread from tundra to temperate forests in huge numbers. They prey on small rodents, reptiles, and birds, but in some parts of the world they are themselves vulnerable to larger predators.

Folklore 

The fox features widely in both worldwide and Irish folklore. It is no great surprise really because of their relatively secret lives and their reputation for being clever and sly. All of this makes them an animal of considerable intrigue.

In Celtic mythology, the fox is wise and cunning. A trickster who knows the forest better than anyone else, the fox symbolises the need to think fast and strategically. Highly adaptable creatures, they also symbolise the need to adjust to new situations. In ancient Celtic cultures, the fox was also seen as a messenger of the otherworld, and was believed to possess magical powers.

In European folklore, foxes are again portrayed as having a reputation of being tricksters. The character of Reynard is thought to have originated in Lorraine folklore, from where it spread to France and Germany.

Aesop, a popular character of ancient Greece, was known for his animal fables and had numerous stories featuring foxes. The fable, The Fox and the Grapes, was one that tells the story of a fox who tries to steal grapes that hang out of his reach, and try as he might, he cannot get them. After giving up, the fox says, “They’re probably sour anyway,” which is the origin of the phrase “sour grapes”.

Mountain Home 

This description of the habitat of the fox seems like he has the perfect home here in the Ox Mountains: rivers, wetland, marshland, deciduous woodland, mixed woodland and arable land. The Vincent Wildlife Trust provides information in relation to fox distribution in Ireland.

The fox is found throughout Ireland, although the density of fox populations is highly variable. They are most abundant in areas that offer a wide variety of food and cover. At high population densities, foxes generally have small home ranges and disperse over short distances. Some foxes become resident in an area and form stable home ranges, whilst others are nomadic and appear to wander from one place to another. Two crucial factors determining the size of a fox territory are the availability of food and the cost of defending the territory.

The red fox forms various sizes of family groups that range from monogamous pairs to small family groups. These family groups usually consist of one dog fox and several related vixens, one of which will be the dominant female. The dominant vixen comes into heat just once during the breeding season, which extends from December to February. In most cases the average litter size is between four and five.

In Ireland, most cubs are born between March and mid-April. In rural areas, the den can be in the form of an enlarged rabbit burrow or occasionally a chamber in a large badger sett is used. At approximately one month old the cubs make their first venture above ground. The growth of the cubs continues until, by early October, their size is much the same as that of the adults.

Survival 

How the fox survives, and indeed thrives, is a minor miracle. They come in for a lot of bad press and suffer no end of persecution. The fox is not legally protected here, due its widespread distribution and abundance.

There is a long history of exploitation of the fox in Ireland. Fox skins were exported from Ireland as far back as the eighteenth century and were used as clothing here long before that. There is also evidence of fox hunting as a sport in early Ireland as it is described in a story in the Táin. Modern fox hunting with horse and hounds only developed here in the nineteenth century.

The income of many poor people was also augmented by trapping and killing foxes in times past. A recent article in the Irish Independent by Liam Collins (July 21, 2024) under the heading, How Much For a Fox’s Tail and a Magpie’s Head, paints a cruel image.

Not so long ago, foxes had a bounty on their heads. In 1937, newspapers reported that 46,000 foxes had been killed under what was known as the fox destruction scheme. To collect their bounty, hunters and farmers had to present severed parts of their trophies at the local garda station. In the case of birds, the head or tail of a magpie was sufficient. As for foxes, its paw, tail (or brush) or even a severed tongue was required.

Contrasting images 

A strange contrast comes into play when we consider the fox. On one hand, we have the sly and cunning animal of the wild who is perceived to be the demon of poultry pens and sheep flocks. On the other, we have the handsome Mr Fox, a beast of natural beauty and extraordinary intellect. Apart from the endearing robin, the fox is one of our fondest Christmas card images.

Thankfully, the fox has a few trump cards, among them his secret life and his adaptability. At times, we might think we are cleverer than the fox but really, we don’t know him well enough to ever get the upper hand… and I, for one, am ok with that.