The most unusual is called "gekkering." It is a guttural chattering with occasional yelps and howls, like an ack-ack-ack-ackawoooo-ack-ack-ack. Most other fox vocalizations are quiet and used for communication between individuals in close proximity. It is thought that this call is used by vixens (female foxes) to lure male foxes to them for mating, though males have been found to make this sound occasionally as well. The scream-like howl is most often heard during the breeding season, in the springtime. That bark sequence is thought to be an identification system and studies indicate that foxes can tell each other apart by this call. It is commonly mistaken for an owl hooting. Their barks are very high pitched and sound like ow-wow-wow-wow. The most commonly heard red fox vocalizations are a quick series of barks, and a scream-like variation on a howl. Red foxes have a wide range of vocalizations that are used for different purposes. Humans are the most significant predator of adult foxes, who are often hunted for fur or killed because they are considered pests. Mature red foxes can be attacked by larger animals, including bears, wolves and mountain lions. Young red foxes are primarily preyed upon by eagles and coyotes. Red foxes will often store food for later, returning to their hidden supply of food when they are hungry. It will also stalk small mammals by standing very still, then leaping high and bringing its forepaws down to pin the animal to the ground. Once a fox detects its prey, it digs into the soil to capture it. It is able to hear small mammals digging, chewing and rustling underground. It hunts and forages for a variety of foods, including fruits, seeds, worms, insects, small mammals (such as voles, rabbits and muskrats) and small marsh birds and their eggs. Red foxes can be distinguished from the gray fox by its longer snout, lighter eyes and larger legs and feet. Red foxes grow to about 25 inches in length and weigh six to 15 pounds. Its bushy red and black tail is usually tipped in white. It has black fur on its lower legs and feet and has large ears that are black on the backs. The red fox varies in color from bright red to rusty or reddish-brown with white underparts.
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