Mammals of the Kalahari Desert - Cape Fox

Habitat, Description, Social Structure and Reproduction

Feb 24, 2009 Yolande Pienaar

The Cape Fox (Vulpes Chama) is the chameleon of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park's landscape. It is also the only true fox found in South Africa.

From a distance the fox appears grey in color, but move in closer and it changes to silver grey - thus the Dutch name, 'Silwervos' meaning silver fox.

The Vulpes Chama inhabits areas of the Western and Northern Cape in South Africa, most parts of Namibia except for the Caprivi and the central and Western parts of Botswana. These foxes are not spotted often during the day, but early morning and late afternoon one could find them frolicking around the dens.

Habitat of the Cape Fox

Cape foxes prefer semi - desert areas with open grassland, with or without shrubs, open dry bush veld, Karoo bush veld and fynbos areas. They are territorial, but only defend a small area around their den. Dens are holes in the ground wherein the pups are also raised.

In the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, visitors may find the Cape Fox on the main road between Twee Riviere and Nossob, just before the Confluence lookout point on the left at the foot of the dune. Between Mata Mata rest camp and Twee Riviere on the main road past the bore hole at Dalkeith the foxes burrow a den approximately 25 meters on the northern side of the road.

What Does a Cape Fox Look Like

These silver grey foxes only reach a mass of 3 kilograms. Their front legs are colored reddish brown and a dark brown spot rests on each rump. The head is reddish brown and the cheeks white while the throat is dull yellow and the stomach white with a reddish tint. The long tail ends in a black tuft of woolly hair. The Cape fox is smaller than the Bat-Eared Fox and their ears, although longer than most canines', do not reach the size of the Bat-Eared Fox.

Cape Foxes have a strong body odor and often mark their territory with a pungent scent according to Robin Frandsen, Southern African Mammals, A Field Guide, Honeyguide Publications, 1998.

Social Structure of the Cape Fox

The Cape Fox are solitary animals. They are mostly nocturnal and at their most active just after dusk and before dawn. During the day they sleep in burrows under ground or in tall grass. The Cape Fox are established diggers and will either dig their own dens in the ground or adapt abandoned Springhare burrows.

Food of the Cape Fox include smaller mammals, especially mice, insects, reptiles and spiders. Contrary to popular belief, the Cape Fox do not hunt sheep or lamb.

Lion, leopard, hyena and even eagles and owls predate on the Cape Fox. When the fox is in danger, or when the mother warns her pups, it barks in alarm in contrast to the usual high pitched howl they use to communicate. When aggressive the Cape Fox is known to growl and spit at the attacker. Excited Cape Foxes lift their tails and the degree of excitement, according to Robin Fransen supra can be measured by the height of the lift.

Reproduction of the Cape Fox

One to five pups are born after a gestation period of approximately two months. The births are usually timed to take place during early summer, between October and November.

This truly remarkable animal deserves protection, although it is not an endangered species, from the local population which uses the fur to produce traditional clothing.

The copyright of the article Mammals of the Kalahari Desert - Cape Fox in Mammals is owned by Yolande Pienaar. Permission to republish Mammals of the Kalahari Desert - Cape Fox in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Cape Fox at Den Close to Dalkeith	Cape Fox and Pups Kgalagadi Transfronteir Park	Cape Fox Defends Den At Nossob
Cape Fox Pups Stay Close to the Den	Cape Foxes Are Excellent Diggers