Fox mating season is underway in Massachusetts.

From mid-January through February, peaking around Valentine’s Day, foxes become more active and vocal as they search for mates. Those eerie, screaming sounds you may hear are a normal part of their communication during this time. After an approximately 52-day gestation, pups (kits) are expected to arrive in the spring. Breeding occurs during these winter months, with both parents helping to raise the kits.

What to expect during mating season:

• Increased Sightings & Activity: Red and gray foxes are on the move, searching for mates and suitable den sites.

• More Vocalizations: Loud, startling screams and calls are common.

• Pair Bonding: Males and females may be seen traveling and hunting together.

• Den Preparation: After mating, foxes locate or prepare dens—often old burrows, areas under structures, or dense brush—for their spring litters.

Seeing and hearing more foxes during that time is normal seasonal behavior. Please give them space and admire from afar. 

Source: Facebook, Millis/Medway Animal Control