Red Fox Sounds

What sound does a red fox make?

So what does the fox say? Red foxes have up to 28 different calls! The most common is a quick, hoarse 'wow-wow-wow' bark used to keep in touch. The most famous is the vixen's scream — a chilling, human-like shriek heard on winter nights during mating season.

Foxes also 'gekker' — a throaty chattering used during squabbles and play — and cubs greet their parents with excited whines. A fox's scream in the dark has startled many campers who thought they were hearing something far spookier!

About the Red Fox

The red fox is a widespread species of fox found across the Northern Hemisphere. Known for their reddish-orange fur, bushy tails, and dog-like features, red foxes are adaptable animals that thrive in diverse habitats from forests to urban areas. They are omnivorous, eating a varied diet of small mammals, birds, fruits, and insects. Red foxes are primarily nocturnal and are known for their intelligence and cunning. They have excellent hearing and use a variety of vocalizations to communicate, including barks, screams, and a distinctive 'wow-wow-wow' sound. In many cultures, foxes are symbols of cleverness and trickery. Despite being hunted for their fur and often considered pests, red foxes have successfully adapted to human-altered landscapes.

Red Fox questions

What sound does a fox make?

Foxes bark in quick 'wow-wow-wow' bursts, scream eerily during winter mating season, and 'gekker' — a chattering sound — when squabbling or playing.

Why do foxes scream at night?

That blood-curdling scream is usually a vixen (female fox) calling for a mate in winter, or foxes defending territory. It's perfectly normal — just spooky!