The Hidden World of the Fox

A mammal ecologist’s “ode to this familiar yet mysterious creature . . . by turns lyrical, salty, funny and scholarly” (The New York Times Book Review).

The fox. For thousands of years myth and folklore have celebrated its cunning intelligence. Today the red fox is the nature’s most populous carnivore, its dancing orange tail a common sight in backyards. Yet who is this wild neighbor, truly? How do we negotiate this uneasy new chapter of an ancient relationship? Join British ecologist Adele Brand on a journey to discover the surprising secrets of the fabled fox, the enigmatic creature that has adapted to the human world with astonishing—some say, unsettling—success.

Brand has studied foxes for twenty years across four continents—from the Yucatán rainforest to India’s remote Thar Desert, from subarctic Canada to metropolitan London. Her observations have convinced her that the fox is arguably the most modern of all wildlife, uniquely suited to survival in the rapidly expanding urban/wild interface. Blending cutting-edge science, cultural anthropology, and intimate personal storytelling drawn from her own remarkable fieldwork, The Hidden World of the Fox is Brand’s rich and revelatory portrait of the extraordinary animal she has devoted her life to understanding.

“A spirited look at the red fox . . . Thanks to her mix of biology, personal history, and pop culture, Brand’s readers will be left both entertained and better informed about ‘this small, curious member of the dog family.’”—Publishers Weekly