Foxes are members of the dog family, and like dogs they are very good at problem-solving. They hunt at dusk and dawn, using their sharp noses and huge ears to track down mice, voles, beetles and berries. A fox can hear a mouse moving under a thick layer of snow from 50 metres away.
In Luxembourg you might spot fox tracks in muddy paths in the Mullerthal, or catch a glimpse of an orange shape darting across a meadow at sunset. Foxes have territories — areas they consider their own — and they mark the edges with scent. Their calls at night sound a bit like a surprised bark or a raspy scream.
Baby foxes are called cubs or kits. They are born in underground dens called earths, usually in spring, in litters of about four to six. The cubs are born with dark brown fluffy fur and only develop their famous red coat as they grow. Both parents help look after the cubs.
Foxes play an important role in the countryside by keeping the populations of small animals like mice and rats in balance. They are also very curious — if you sit very still at the edge of a wood in the evening, you might be lucky enough to watch one hunting in the field in front of you.