Tuesday 2 February 2010

So that's what randy foxes sound like


Foxes are the loudest lovemakers!

One night last week, I was kept awake for ages by blood-curdling screams and grunts. I would have thought a murder was being committed under the moonlight in my back garden if I hadn't previously been told what these noises meant.

No, foxes do not care what the neighbours think. In fact, they want the world to know that they are in the mood for love. And when they get down to it, they go at it like - well, like wild animals.

At one time it was thought that the mating cries of foxes consisted of a yap, yap, yap from the dog fox and a howling scream from the vixen. Now, however, people have realised that both sexes are screamers. Score one for sexual equality.

If you want to hear what these calls and other noises foxes make, here are some great links with sound recordings:
http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/thefoxden/sounds.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6NuhlibHsM&NR=1
A couple of mornings ago I saw a fox asleep outside the den at the end of my garden. As I watched, a second fox emerged from the fox hole just behind him. Sadly, I failed to get a picture of the two of them together. By the time I'd grabbed my camera the second fox had disappeared and the first one was busy having a scratch.
However, it is good to see the happy couple making their home ready for a new arrival. Hopefully I will once again see fox cubs playing on my lawn in the spring.

Links
http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/thefoxden/sounds.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6NuhlibHsM&NR=1
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/mammal-forums/21446-fox-noises.html

1 comment:

Coach Z said...

We havent heard the family of foxes who live in our back achres. The sounds are incredible... I thought those sounds were only from horror movies. Great photo, lucky ducky.