Brussels red foxes exhibit complex social structures, study finds

Research presented by Chloé Namias Vanden Berghe of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) reveals that the social structures of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Brussels-Capital Region are more complex than previously understood. While the species is traditionally viewed as solitary, findings suggest the existence of nuanced social groups with affiliative behaviors—such as social play, grooming, and non-reproductive sexuality—that may mirror the stability seen in wolf packs or primate groups.

The study highlights the deep interconnection between fox social lives and human urban environments. Through a 29-month ethnography, researchers examined how human interactions, including feeding practices and neighborhood conflicts, shape these animal social fabrics. The research indicates that the cohabitation between humans and foxes in the region is a long-standing phenomenon that predates the urban fox trends noted in the 1980s.