In the quiet suburbs, misty forests, and windswept beaches of New Jersey, an intelligent and mysterious creature roams the night—the fox. Whether it’s the red fox trotting through neighborhood streets or the gray fox slipping silently through woodlands, these cunning predators have learned to thrive in one of America’s most densely populated states.
But beyond their elegant beauty and sly reputation lies a fascinating truth: foxes display behaviors that often surprise even seasoned wildlife observers. They adapt in extraordinary ways to urban life, use complex communication systems, and sometimes behave in ways that seem almost supernatural.
In this article, we’ll uncover strange behaviors of foxes in New Jersey you didn’t know—how they hunt, socialize, and even “laugh.” You’ll learn how these elusive animals live side-by-side with humans while maintaining their wild instincts and clever survival strategies.
The Foxes of New Jersey
Two Common Species
New Jersey is home to two native fox species, both uniquely adapted to the state’s mix of suburbs, forests, and farmland:
- Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) – The most widespread species, recognizable by its reddish coat, bushy white-tipped tail, and black legs.
- Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) – Smaller, with a salt-and-pepper coat and the remarkable ability to climb trees—a rare skill among canids.
Both species can be found from Cape May to the Delaware Water Gap, thriving in rural areas, city edges, and even urban parks.
Appearance and Adaptability
Red foxes are elegant and sleek, weighing between 8 and 15 pounds. Gray foxes are stockier, often with darker fur and shorter snouts. Despite their differences, both are masters of adaptation.
In New Jersey, foxes inhabit forests, marshlands, golf courses, and suburban neighborhoods. They dig dens beneath sheds or hollow logs, sometimes taking over old groundhog burrows. Their incredible versatility has allowed them to flourish where larger predators, like wolves or cougars, have long disappeared.
Strange but True: Fox Behaviors You Didn’t Know
1. Foxes Can Climb Trees
Most people are shocked to learn that gray foxes are expert climbers. Using sharp claws and rotating forearms, they can scale vertical tree trunks up to 30 feet high to escape predators or rest safely on branches.
This behavior is unique among canines—dogs, wolves, and coyotes can’t do it. In New Jersey, gray foxes use this ability to nest in tree hollows or hunt birds and squirrels from above. If you ever spot what looks like a “cat” in a tree with a bushy tail—it might just be a fox.
2. They Communicate With Over 40 Sounds
Foxes are vocal geniuses. Researchers have identified over 40 distinct sounds they use to communicate—ranging from yips and screams to chirps and barks.
Perhaps the most chilling is the “vixen scream”, a high-pitched shriek females make during mating season (January–February). It can sound like a human cry, leading many New Jersey residents to call local authorities, thinking they’ve heard a person in distress.
Foxes also bark to alert others of danger, growl when threatened, and emit gentle chirps between family members—a sign of affection and coordination during hunting.
3. They Use the Earth’s Magnetic Field to Hunt
This one sounds like science fiction but has been proven by researchers: foxes use the Earth’s magnetic field to locate prey.
When hunting in tall grass or snow, a fox leaps high into the air and dives nose-first toward its target. Scientists found that foxes are most successful when facing northeast, suggesting they align with the planet’s magnetic field to judge distance and direction—similar to birds and sea turtles.
4. They Cache Food Like Squirrels
Foxes don’t always eat their kills right away. Instead, they bury excess food—from rodents to leftover pizza crusts—to save for leaner days. They mark the spot with scent glands on their paws and faces, returning days or weeks later.
In suburban New Jersey, foxes have been caught on security cameras stashing everything from fast-food wrappers to pet toys, mistaking them for edible treasures.
5. They “Play” for Practice
Juvenile foxes spend hours chasing, pouncing, and tumbling in mock battles. While it looks like play, these games sharpen hunting and reflex skills essential for adulthood.
Adults also engage in play-like behavior, sliding down snowy slopes or tossing objects in the air—a display of intelligence and curiosity that rivals domestic dogs.
Foxes in New Jersey’s Changing Landscape
Living Among Humans
Unlike many wild animals, foxes have adapted remarkably well to human presence. In towns like Princeton, Mendham, and Cherry Hill, foxes patrol neighborhoods after dark, using storm drains and wooded lots as safe corridors.
They are opportunistic feeders, thriving on whatever they can find—small mammals, insects, fruits, and even human leftovers. This adaptability allows them to survive where other predators cannot.
Suburban Dens
In suburban environments, foxes often den under decks, sheds, or overgrown gardens. While some homeowners panic upon discovering a family of foxes nearby, experts advise leaving them alone—most move on once their pups are grown.
Foxes rarely pose a threat to humans, and their presence often reduces populations of rodents and rabbits that damage gardens.
Diet and Hunting Habits
Omnivorous Opportunists
Foxes eat just about anything available. Their diet in New Jersey includes:
- Mice, voles, and rabbits
- Birds, eggs, and amphibians
- Berries, apples, and acorns
- Garbage and pet food (in urban areas)
They use keen hearing to detect prey beneath snow or soil, pouncing with lightning speed once they pinpoint the sound. Their signature “mouse pounce” is both graceful and deadly.
Hunting Alone
Unlike wolves or coyotes, foxes are solitary hunters. They rely on stealth and patience rather than pack coordination. They often stalk quietly, pausing frequently to listen before striking with surgical precision.
Their hunting efficiency is astonishing—some studies show a success rate of up to 70%, higher than many larger carnivores.
Family Life and Social Behavior
Mating and Pups
Mating season for New Jersey foxes begins in January or February, when nocturnal calls fill the cold air. After a 50-day gestation period, the female (vixen) gives birth to 4–6 pups in an underground den.
The male (dog fox) provides food while the female stays with the newborns. Pups are born blind and covered in dark fur but open their eyes after two weeks. By summer, they are weaned and begin learning to hunt under their parents’ supervision.
Family Bonds
Fox families remain together until late fall. The young disperse in early winter to find their own territories, though some females may stay nearby. Foxes are deeply social within family units—sharing food, grooming one another, and even “talking” during play.
Strange Nighttime Behavior
Dancing Shadows
If you’ve ever seen a fox “dance” under moonlight, you’re not imagining things. Foxes sometimes leap, twist, and spin in what looks like spontaneous movement. Biologists believe these actions serve several purposes: to dislodge fleas, communicate excitement, or simply enjoy movement.
Urban Explorers
Night brings foxes closer to human homes. They roam streets, backyards, and even parking lots, hunting for easy meals. Motion-sensor cameras across New Jersey have captured foxes checking doorsteps, peering into porches, or trotting down sidewalks as if they own the neighborhood.
Their confidence is growing, but they remain cautious—retreating at the first sign of danger.
Fox Intelligence: Smarter Than You Think
Problem Solvers
Foxes are clever opportunists capable of solving complex problems. They’ve been observed opening latches, untying knots, and learning human schedules to avoid detection.
In one New Jersey suburb, a red fox learned to cross streets only when traffic lights turned red—a display of intelligence once thought unique to primates and crows.
Memory Masters
Foxes remember the locations of their caches for months, using both spatial memory and scent marking. They can recall where they’ve buried dozens of food items and even adjust based on environmental changes like snow or flooding.
The Role of Foxes in New Jersey Ecosystems
Natural Pest Control
Foxes are crucial for controlling rodent populations, preventing outbreaks of disease and crop damage. By hunting small mammals, they naturally limit pests that harm farms and gardens.
Balancing the Food Chain
As mid-level predators, foxes help maintain ecological balance. They prevent overpopulation of prey species while also serving as food for larger predators like coyotes or eagles.
Seed Dispersers
By eating fruits and berries, foxes aid in seed dispersal. Their droppings spread seeds across wide areas, promoting forest and meadow regeneration.
Threats and Challenges
Road Mortality
New Jersey’s dense network of highways poses a serious risk. Each year, hundreds of foxes are killed by vehicles, especially during the mating and dispersal seasons when they travel more widely.
Disease
Foxes are susceptible to mange, a skin disease caused by mites, which can lead to fur loss and starvation. Rabies, though rare, can occur and is closely monitored by state wildlife agencies.
Habitat Loss
Urban sprawl continues to encroach on fox territory. Yet, their adaptability has allowed them to survive by turning neighborhoods into hunting grounds—a testament to their resilience.
Coexisting With Foxes
Living Peacefully
Foxes are naturally shy and prefer to avoid humans. To coexist safely:
- Keep garbage and compost bins sealed.
- Don’t leave pet food outside.
- Close off spaces under decks or sheds where foxes might den.
- Keep small pets indoors, especially at night.
Appreciating Their Role
Seeing a fox in your neighborhood is not cause for alarm—it’s a sign of a healthy, balanced ecosystem. Foxes help control pests and rarely pose any danger to humans.
If you encounter one, observe quietly from a distance. Most will trot away within seconds, their curiosity satisfied.
Interesting and Strange Facts About New Jersey Foxes
- Foxes have vertical-slit pupils, like cats, allowing them to hunt efficiently at night.
- They use their tails (called “brush”) as blankets to stay warm in winter.
- Their whiskers are longer than their faces, helping them navigate tight spaces.
- Foxes purr when happy, especially during grooming or rest.
- They can jump over 6 feet and climb fences with ease.
- A fox’s hearing is so sharp, it can detect a mouse squeak 100 feet away.
- They often reuse dens, passing them down through generations.
- Foxes have distinct regional accents, with calls varying across different areas of New Jersey.
FAQs About Foxes in New Jersey
Are foxes dangerous to people?
No. They avoid humans and are not aggressive unless cornered or sick.
What should I do if a fox lives near my house?
Leave it alone. It will usually move on once pups are raised or food sources decline.
Do foxes carry rabies?
It’s rare, but possible. Avoid approaching any fox acting strangely and report it to animal control.
What do foxes eat in suburban areas?
They eat rodents, rabbits, insects, fruits, and sometimes human leftovers.
Can foxes climb trees?
Yes, gray foxes can climb trees—a unique skill among canids.
When are foxes most active?
At dawn and dusk, though in urban areas, they often roam late at night.
Conclusion
The foxes of New Jersey are remarkable examples of adaptability, intelligence, and survival. From tree-climbing gray foxes to cunning red foxes navigating suburban streets, these animals continue to surprise scientists and residents alike with their strange and clever behaviors.
Their eerie screams, playful antics, and nocturnal adventures reveal a world that thrives right under our noses. As long as humans continue to share the landscape responsibly, foxes will remain one of New Jersey’s most fascinating wild neighbors—living proof that nature’s mysteries endure, even in the heart of the suburbs.
So next time you glimpse a russet blur darting across a moonlit lawn, remember—you’re watching one of the most extraordinary survivors in the Garden State’s wild tapestry.
