The fox, a highly adaptable canine known for its opportunistic nature and ability to thrive in diverse environments. Unlike mammals that undergo a period of deep dormancy, foxes do not hibernate, meaning their need for a safe and comfortable resting spot is a year-round consideration. The sleeping habits of this resourceful animal are flexible, depending heavily on the season, the surrounding landscape, and whether they are raising young.
Natural Resting Places and Dens
In natural habitats, a fox’s sleeping arrangements fall into two categories: permanent dens, known as earths, and temporary, above-ground resting sites called beds. The earth is an underground burrow system, but it is not typically used for daily rest by adult foxes outside of the breeding season. These dens are usually dug into earth banks, under dense vegetation like bramble, or on well-drained slopes, but foxes often take over and modify burrows dug by other animals, such as badgers or woodchucks.
For their routine daytime rest, foxes generally opt for a temporary bed created in a secluded spot on the surface. These beds are often situated in areas with secure cover, such as thickets, tall grass, hedgerows, or brush piles, where the fox can remain hidden while dozing. When resting, the fox typically curls into a tight ball, wrapping its bushy tail over its nose and feet to conserve body heat. These surface resting sites are chosen for convenience and security, allowing the animal to be near its most recent activity area.
When and Why Foxes Choose a Resting Spot
Foxes are largely crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, or nocturnal to avoid human interaction, which dictates that most of their resting occurs during the day. The primary motivation for selecting a resting location is a combination of safety from disturbances, thermoregulation, and reproductive necessity. A significant behavioral distinction is the use of the permanent earth, which is almost exclusively reserved for the breeding season.
The female fox, or vixen, will occupy the earth for a time to give birth and raise her kits, typically from late winter until the young are old enough to disperse in late summer. During this time, she and the kits remain underground, while the male fox hunts and rests in temporary surface beds nearby. Non-breeding adults and dispersing juveniles rely on these temporary, above-ground beds for their daily rest, changing locations frequently based on hunting success and perceived threat levels.
Adaptations for Sleeping in Urban Areas
Foxes residing in urban environments exhibit remarkable flexibility by substituting natural cover with human-made structures for their resting needs. These urban dwellers use sheltered spots that mimic the function of a natural earth or dense thicket, providing protection from the elements and privacy. Common urban resting places include the sheltered spaces beneath garden sheds, decking, abandoned buildings, garages, or dense patches of garden foliage and shrubbery. These human-adjacent shelters offer excellent insulation and security, often placing the fox closer to reliable, if often scavenged, food sources. While they still maintain the behavioral pattern of resting during the day, the proximity to human activity means urban foxes are often more opportunistic in their choice of location, sometimes even using railway embankments or junk piles.