<P> The average litter size consists of four to six kits , though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred . Large litters are typical in areas where fox mortality is high . Kits are born blind , deaf and toothless , with dark brown fluffy fur . At birth , they weigh 56 -- 110 g ( 2.0 -- 3.9 oz ) and measure 14.5 cm ( 5.7 in ) in body length and 7.5 cm ( 3.0 in ) in tail length . At birth , they are short - legged , large - headed and have broad chests . Mothers remain with the kits for 2 -- 3 weeks , as they are unable to thermoregulate . During this period , the fathers or barren vixens feed the mothers . Vixens are very protective of their kits , and have been known to even fight off terriers in their defence . If the mother dies before the kits are independent , the father takes over as their provider . The kits ' eyes open after 13 -- 15 days , during which time their ear canals open and their upper teeth erupt , with the lower teeth emerging 3 -- 4 days later . Their eyes are initially blue , but change to amber at 4 -- 5 weeks . Coat colour begins to change at three weeks of age , when the black eye streak appears . By one month , red and white patches are apparent on their faces . During this time , their ears erect and their muzzles elongate . Kits begin to leave their dens and experiment with solid food brought by their parents at the age of 3 -- 4 weeks . The lactation period lasts 6 -- 7 weeks . Their woolly coats begin to be coated by shiny guard hairs after 8 weeks . By the age of 3 -- 4 months , the kits are long - legged , narrow - chested and sinewy . They reach adult proportions at the age of 6 -- 7 months . Some vixens may reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 -- 10 months , thus bearing their first litters at one year of age . In captivity , their longevity can be as long as 15 years , though in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years of age . </P>
<P> The average litter size consists of four to six kits , though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred . Large litters are typical in areas where fox mortality is high . Kits are born blind , deaf and toothless , with dark brown fluffy fur . At birth , they weigh 56 -- 110 g ( 2.0 -- 3.9 oz ) and measure 14.5 cm ( 5.7 in ) in body length and 7.5 cm ( 3.0 in ) in tail length . At birth , they are short - legged , large - headed and have broad chests . Mothers remain with the kits for 2 -- 3 weeks , as they are unable to thermoregulate . During this period , the fathers or barren vixens feed the mothers . Vixens are very protective of their kits , and have been known to even fight off terriers in their defence . If the mother dies before the kits are independent , the father takes over as their provider . The kits ' eyes open after 13 -- 15 days , during which time their ear canals open and their upper teeth erupt , with the lower teeth emerging 3 -- 4 days later . Their eyes are initially blue , but change to amber at 4 -- 5 weeks . Coat colour begins to change at three weeks of age , when the black eye streak appears . By one month , red and white patches are apparent on their faces . During this time , their ears erect and their muzzles elongate . Kits begin to leave their dens and experiment with solid food brought by their parents at the age of 3 -- 4 weeks . The lactation period lasts 6 -- 7 weeks . Their woolly coats begin to be coated by shiny guard hairs after 8 weeks . By the age of 3 -- 4 months , the kits are long - legged , narrow - chested and sinewy . They reach adult proportions at the age of 6 -- 7 months . Some vixens may reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 -- 10 months , thus bearing their first litters at one year of age . In captivity , their longevity can be as long as 15 years , though in the wild they typically do not survive past 5 years of age . </P>
how long does a red fox live in the wild
how long does a red fox live in the wild
5 years
5 years