The red fox is the largest of foxes and one of the most widely spread carnivores. Red foxes’ range extends across the entire Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Europe, as well as much of Asia and even some North Africa.
Red and flying foxes can be seen around Vietnam in rural forested areas or on nature walks, but they are not dangerous to people. Vietnam has a rich history and legends surrounding foxes that were passed down generations to scare Vietnamese children.
Related: Are There Lions In Vietnam?
Wild Canids In Vietnam
There are 4 species of wild canids documented in Vietnam, including the Red Fox, Golden Jackal, Dhole, and Raccoon Dogs. All these animals are widely spread worldwide and listed as “Least Concern” on the IUNC Red List of Threatened Species.
Canidae is a grouping of dog-like carnivorans, more commonly known as dogs. This biological family is also categorized as the dog family named Canids. Within the family of canids, there are three subfamilies.
The subfamilies are:
- Borophaginae (extinct)
- Hesperocyoninae (extinct)
- Caninae (extant or still surviving)
Canines are members of the family Caninae, which includes wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, and other living and extinct species.
Red Foxes In Vietnam
Despite their superior intelligence, speed, and sense of smell, there is no evidence that red foxes are hostile to humans. They are most likely found in northern Vietnam, where it is colder. A full-grown red fox can grow to be 27.5 inches (70 cm) long, 17.5 inches (45 cm) tall, and weigh up to 12 pounds (5.5 kg). They live in burrows made of sandy, loose dirt and have a three to four-year lifespan.
Outside of the breeding season, most red foxes prefer to live in the open, in areas with dense vegetation; however, they will enter burrows to seek shelter from the elements. They dig holes on the sides of hills and mountains, in ravines and bluffs, on the steep banks of water bodies, in ditches, depressions, and gutters, in rock crevices, and in neglected human settlement areas.
The red fox’s diet consists of various foods because it is an omnivore. According to research conducted in the former Soviet Union, red foxes consume over 300 species of animals and a few dozen species of plants. Their favorite foods include voles, mice, ground squirrels, hamsters, gerbils, pocket gophers, woodchucks, and deer mice.
Because their caloric intake must be at least (18 oz) (500 grams) daily, they typically hunt mammals weighing up to 7.7 lb (3.5 kg). The red fox is not picky about its plant food; fruit can make up as much as 100 percent of its diet in some areas during the fall months.
Golden Jackel In Vietnam
Despite their similar appearances, the golden jackal and gray wolf are very different animals. The jackal is smaller and lighter than the wolf, with a longer torso, flatter forehead, shorter legs and tail, and a narrower, more pointed muzzle.
Males are 29 inches (73 cm) tall, while females are 27 to 29 inches (69 to 73 cm) tall. Males have an average weight range of 13-31 lb (6-14 kg), while females have an average weight range of 15-24 lb (7-11 kg). Both males and females are about 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders (45 to 50 cm). The Arabian wolf is the smallest of all wolf species, weighing only 20 kilograms (44 lb)
The golden jackal, native to Eurasia, has, for the most part, the same diet as the coyote in North America. It is an omnivorous and opportunistic forager, hunting and scavenging. Its diet changes with the seasons and the conditions in its natural habitat.
Dhole In Vietnam
The dhole is native to Eurasia and can be found in Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. In English, these animals are Asian wild dogs, Asiatic wild dogs, Indian wild dogs, whistling dogs, red dogs, and mountain wolves.
The dhole’s appearance has been described as “cat-like” due to its long backbone, slender limbs, and more. In addition, the dhole looks like a gray wolf and a red fox cross.
Male adults can weigh between 15 and 21 kilograms (33 and 49 pounds), while females can weigh between 10 and 17 kilograms (22 to 37 pounds) (33 to 46 lb). In a sample of three animals, the average adult weighed 15.1 kilograms (33 lb)
Dholes, unlike most canids, prefer plant-based diets. They have been observed in captivity eating a wide variety of grasses, herbs, and leaves, apparently for pleasure rather than necessity. All summer, dholes in the Tian Shan Mountains gorge on mountain rhubarb. Dholes are opportunistic but do not appear to prey on cattle or their young.
Raccoon Dog In Vietnam
The raccoon dog, also known as the Chinese raccoon dog, and Asian raccoon dog, is a small, stocky, fox-like canid that is endemic to East Asia.
It is commonly referred to as a raccoon due to its facial markings, but its closest relatives are foxes. The raccoon dog is one of the few canids that can both ascend and hibernate in trees. In addition to plant matter, they consume a wide variety of animal species.
Overall lengths range from 18 to 28 inches (45 to 71 cm). The tail, which is only 4.7 to 7.1 inches (12 to 18 cm) long and hangs without touching the ground, takes up less than a third of the animal’s total length.
Most males weigh around 20 to 22 lb (9 to 10 kg) in August and September, with the heaviest weighing closer to 15 lb (7 kg). In August and early September, males weigh 14 to 15 lb (6.5-7 kg), while females weigh 6.6 lb (3 kg).
Are Foxes In Vietnam Dangerous
Foxes do not threaten humans and will not attack unless they are rabid, which is extremely rare. However, this only applies when they are in the care of humans. In most cases, the fox will most likely flee rather than fight.
Suppose a fox does not flee in terror when it sees you and doesn’t appear scared of you. That could mean it has most likely become accustomed to human contact (being fed by someone). It is thus more likely to approach humans. Making loud noises, such as yelling, spraying them with water hoses, or squirt guns, will quickly scare the foxes away.
Cultural Significance Of Foxes In Vietnam
Myths and legends about foxes, dragons, and other fantastical animals are deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture and history. The story of Hồ Tinh, the fox monster, is one such legend that has been passed down generations to frighten Vietnamese children.
Flying Foxes In Vietnam
They are commonly referred to as “fruit bats” due to their fondness for fruit, flowers, and nectar. Because the heads of these bats resembled those of foxes, people referred to them as “flying foxes.” Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam are the countries where it is most commonly found, with a small population living in Yunnan, China.
Unfortunately, they are hunted for bushmeat in some regions of its range, which puts them at risk of being persecuted by farmers. As a result, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has assigned the status “vulnerable” to describe its current conservation status.
Lyle’s Flying Fox
Lyle’s Flying Fox adults are about 9 inches (23 cm) long and weigh about 11 oz (0.3 kg). It resembles a fox with its long muzzle, large eyes, and pointed ears.
Lyle’s Flying Fox has a broad collar with orange fur, sometimes a dark brown or yellowish-brown lower body contrast with the predominantly blackish appearance of the upper parts of the animal. The underparts are dark brown and black, while the wings can be either black or dark brown.
The Lyle’s flying fox is a species that can only be found in the countries of southern Asia that are adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand. Its range extends from the southernmost part of Thailand, through the middle and south parts of Cambodia, all the way up to the most southwestern part of Vietnam.
Malayan Flying Fox
Adult Malayan Flying Foxes weigh 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and have a wingspan of about 4 feet (1.2 meters). These animals, which have fox-like facial features and are typically found in jungle or rainforest environments, have a lifespan of up to three decades.
Additionally, the Yunnan Province in China has shown signs of its presence. It is gregarious and prefers to roost in tropical, subtropical, and mangrove forests; however, it has been found in plantations and secondary forests. Although the name might suggest that it is part of the fox family, it is actually part of the fruit bat family.
