One of the most mysterious aspects of a fox is its voice.

Based on a set of complex vocal patterns, foxes exhibit some of the most varied calls in the canine kingdom. Few studies have been able to explain them all, as the presence of observers changes the animals behavior.

Because some fox sounds can easily be mistaken for other animals, such as racoons and birds, it's also difficult to obtain accurate samples. Here are a few recordings, most from the wild, that show how diverse fox communication can be:


Excited Fox

Kits at Play

Kit chatter

Kit cry

Adult dispute

Calling to a mate

Territorial reponse

Sound of warning

Foxes in winter

Summoning yell

Fox in a field

Fox in distress

"wowo"

"wawa"

"squall"

"squabble"

"chirp"

If you can't hear the sounds, try adjusting the volume on your computer. You may also need to install software called QuickTime, which is freely available from www.apple.com.