Foxes - Dog or vixen?

[jeanette1976]

How can you tell the difference when looking from a distance? I saw one out my window in a field very early this morning, about 100yds away and wanted to give it a name.... I've never been so close to a fox before and it was really beautiful!

It was a lovely rich red with a bushy tale and a white tip. Not sure if it makes a difference, but the end of the tail was rounded and puffy rather than ending in a thin tip.

Many thanks. X

[Champagne]

Not being an expert, I wouldn't know how to tell its sex from a distance. Maybe you can't!

They're lovely creatures though, aren't they? Our bedroom overlooks a field which is full of rabbits. We watched a fox wander out onto the field only last week. He just sat there watching the rabbits frolick around and didn't once go for any of them! I opened up the window and called to the fox and he sat there and stared at me for ages. Sooooo cute!

[jeanette1976]

Absolutely gorgeous! I think it is something to do with its tail or ears... will try google. X

[RATTER15]

The dog is a good bit bigger than the vixen.

[annavc]

I think vixens tend to be much smaller than dogs but I'm not certain. I see loads of them where I live in the middle of London - these urban ones aren't scared of anything and aren't even nocturnal anymore. One came into my house one summer when I was upstairs and the back door was open - I met it at the bottom of the stairs and we both got quite a shock. Often see them trotting along the side of railway lines at the back of my house too.

[jeanette1976]

Problem is I can't compare it to the size of a vixen as its always on its own!...

[missjef]

on a website i read it said that the only real difference (part from size), is that the dog is slightly whiskered though this might be hard for you to tell from a distance away. thought this might help a little.

[heathfield]

Many people have called foxes by many different names. Unfortunately none of them are repeatable here! LOL

[Thunderbird+]

Yes, its true about the size and the whiskers but we're talking about the legnth of a football pitch here, but I think with regular watching, especially if you use some good binoculars, you will be able to spot minor differences with a little practice.
Fox's often tend to hunt in the same areas, as they're territorial, who knows maybe you will see a dog and vixen together to get a comparison of size etc. Good Luck Tbird+

[lankeela]

The name Reynard refers to foxes, use this if you must, but don't be fooled - they are not pets. Beautiful to look at, but still wild animals that will kill domestic fowl and pets if given half a chance. If you want to give something a name, buy a pet, foxes should not be thought of in terms of domestication.

[lankeela]

Bit of useless information on naming foxes:

VULPES VULPES the Latin word for a fox originates from the word "volupes" or twisty foot. So called as the fox rarely runs in a straight line, preferring to run from side to side to help spread the scent with his tail as he runs.

SKULK is the collective noun for a group of foxes.

FOX, the common English name, more precisely known as the European Red Fox. It's name is Germanic (old German "Fuhs", modern German "Fuchs").

VIXEN, a female fox, is also Germanic, "Fuchsin".

TOD, is a Scottish/Northern English term for a fox. Origin unknown.

REYNARD, from the medieval epic called "Reynard the Fox". In those days, satirical tales involved animals that represented people, it was considered bad taste to use actual people.

[Goofy]

and to continue lankeela's theme about not being pets, foxes ahve been known to jump into a baby's pram and then bite baby. They are vicious animals, who will kill for fun rather than just food.