Cairngorms National Park, Scotland UK Mammals

A flexible omnivore found from glens to croftlands; red foxes hunt rodents, birds and scavenge carrion and human food waste, exploiting both wild and human-altered habitats. In the Cairngorms they are visible on lower slopes and valley farmland and occasionally on moorland edges.

Reddish coat with pale underparts, black ear tips and a bushy tail with a pale tip. Faces are narrow with pointed muzzles; listen for high-pitched screams or contact barks at night.

Common Confusions

• Feral Dog Canis familiaris Feral or shepherd dogs are larger, have dog-like gait and lack the bushy brush and tapered muzzle of foxes.
• Pine Marten Martes martes Pine martens are smaller with a slimmer body, pale throat patch and arboreal habits; foxes are larger and terrestrial.
• Roe Deer (small young) Capreolus capreolus Roe fawns may be seen but are much larger than foxes; body shape and movement differ markedly.
• Stoat Mustela erminea Stoats are much smaller with elongated bodies and a black-tipped tail; foxes have bushy tails and larger heads.
• Corsac fox (not present) Vulpes corsac Non-native species differ in ecology and subtle facial proportions; included as a reminder to confirm location.