They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush").

[2] The global distribution of foxes, together with their widespread reputation for cunning, has contributed to their prominence in popular culture and folklore in many societies around the world.

The hunting of foxes with packs of hounds, long an established pursuit in Europe, especially in the British Isles, was exported by European settlers to various parts of the New World.

[8] Fox features typically include a triangular face, pointed ears, an elongated rostrum, and a bushy tail.

[2][9] Arctic foxes, on the other hand, have tiny ears and short limbs as well as thick, insulating fur, which aid in keeping the body warm.

To get rid of the dense winter coat, foxes moult once a year around April; the process begins from the feet, up the legs, and then along the back.

These pairs consist of the upper premolar and the lower first molar, and work together to shear tough material like flesh.

[9][15] While hunting, foxes tend to use a particular pouncing technique, such that they crouch down to camouflage themselves in the terrain and then use their hind legs to leap up with great force and land on top of their chosen prey.

[25] Due in part to their opportunistic hunting style and industriousness, foxes are commonly resented as nuisance animals.

[29] Island populations are therefore highly susceptible to external threats ranging from introduced predatory species and humans to extreme weather.

[30] Nonnative grazers were also removed so that native plants would be able to grow back to their natural height, thereby providing adequate cover and protection for the foxes against golden eagles.

[31] Darwin's fox was considered critically endangered because of their small known population of 250 mature individuals as well as their restricted distribution.

[34] A major issue the species faces is their dwindling, limited habitat due to the cutting and burning of the unprotected forests.

[35] They also suggest that other forests around Chile be examined to determine whether Darwin's foxes have previously existed there or can live there in the future, should the need to reintroduce the species to those areas arise.

[35] And finally, the researchers advise for the creation of a captive breeding program, in Chile, because of the limited number of mature individuals in the wild.

[47] Fox hunting is practiced as recreation in several other countries including Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, United States and Australia.

A recent and notable exception is the Russian silver fox,[48] which resulted in visible and behavioral changes, and is a case study of an animal population modeling according to human domestication needs.

This selective breeding resulted in physical and behavioral traits appearing that are frequently seen in domestic cats, dogs, and other animals, such as pigmentation changes, floppy ears, and curly tails.

Their omnivorous diet allows them to survive on discarded food waste, and their skittish and often nocturnal nature means that they are often able to avoid detection, despite their larger size.

Urban foxes have been identified as threats to cats and small dogs, and for this reason there is often pressure to exclude them from these environments.

These traits are used on a wide variety of characters, either making them a nuisance to the story, a misunderstood hero, or a devious villain.

Similar to in the folklore of other regions, foxes are portrayed as mischievous, usually tricking other people, with the ability to disguise as an attractive female human.

[53] Nine-tailed foxes appear in Chinese folklore, literature, and mythology, in which, depending on the tale, they can be a good or a bad omen.