When we think of culture, it’s easy to assume it’s a human-only trait—after all, we have everything from language and fashion to complex social rituals. But animals, including foxes, have culture too! Recent studies on animal social learning show that culture is not exclusive to humans. In fact, foxes have been developing their own quirky cultural practices—most notably, a fondness for stealing shoes!
Behaviour vs. Culture
The difference between behaviour and culture is subtle but significant. Behaviour is what you do, but culture is how you do it. For humans, our actions carry cultural meaning, whether it's how we greet people or what we choose to wear. But what about animals?
Scientists have increasingly recognised that animals also exhibit culture. From primates using tools to birds learning songs, culture permeates the animal world. Foxes, however, seem to have chosen a different cultural path—by swiping shoes from gardens and porches. What began as isolated incidents has grown into an amusing urban trend, where foxes appear to be passing along this shoe-stealing behaviour through social learning.
Why Shoes?
Why are foxes stealing shoes? Some experts believe that humans might be encouraging this behaviour, leaving out old or unwanted shoes that foxes then adopt. These opportunistic animals quickly incorporate the shoes into their routines, and soon, the behaviour spreads. Whether it’s driven by curiosity or play, this shoe-thievery is more than just mischief—it’s a sign of fox culture in action.
Foxes and Social Learning
Social learning is at the heart of animal culture. It's how individuals learn from others, passing down skills and knowledge that help their group adapt to the environment. Foxes, like other wild canines, demonstrate this through their behaviour. Studies show that urban foxes, in particular, have adapted to human environments and passed these behaviours throughout their populations.
The phenomenon of shoe-stealing has been documented in several UK cities, where foxes are caught on camera taking shoes and sometimes even returning them or swapping them with other objects. This suggests that foxes are learning from each other, adapting to the changing urban landscape.
A New Perspective on Culture
In humans, we assume most behaviours are culturally learned. However, proving this in animals is more challenging. Researchers often rely on the "method of exclusion," which examines behavioural differences between populations to infer culture. Yet this method has limitations—it doesn’t always capture the full diversity of animal cultures.
A newer method suggests directly counting socially learned behaviours. This approach, applied to primates, reveals that culture is more widespread than previously thought, extending even to animals like foxes. So, perhaps the foxes’ growing fondness for shoes is part of a broader, inherited cultural capacity.
Fox Culture and Urban Life
The rise of shoe-stealing in urban fox populations is a perfect example of how these animals adapt. Foxes aren’t just randomly swiping shoes—they’re learning from each other and developing a new form of urban culture that reflects their changing environments. Similar to how wolves pass down hunting strategies, foxes have found a way to thrive in city life, and their collections of shoes may be one of many adaptations.
Fox Culture: A Sneaky Side to Urban Life
Many animals exhibit culture, including foxes, whose mischievous behaviour is increasingly documented in urban settings. Foxes in the UK have captured public attention with their newfound habit of stealing shoes from people's gardens and doorsteps.
In Bourne, Lincolnshire, residents were initially puzzled when their shoes vanished overnight. Upon reviewing CCTV footage, the culprit was revealed to be a fox, carrying off the footwear and sometimes even returning with different pairs. Local social media lit up with playful banter as residents reported their missing shoes. One person humorously recalled how their trainer was found on a nearby grass verge after a fox had its fun with it.
Similarly, in Edinburgh’s Longstone neighbourhood, a fox has been spotted collecting shoes and leaving them in neat piles on pavements and driveways. This cheeky fox was even seen napping on hedges after a night of thievery. Residents, entertained by the antics, joked about placing orders for their next pair of "fox-approved" shoes. Some even suggested setting up a collection point for people to retrieve their missing footwear.
The Importance of Fox Culture
The idea that animals have culture challenges the long-standing belief that humans are set apart from other species by our ability to learn, adapt, and teach. But as we see with foxes, wolves, and even sperm whales, animals have rich, diverse cultures that help them survive in their ever-changing environments. As one study points out;
“Culture is most likely more widespread and pervasive than commonly thought and an important avenue to local adaptation.”
For foxes, this means that their behaviours—whether it’s learning to steal shoes, navigate busy streets, or even communicate with one another—are vital parts of how they thrive in both urban and natural habitats. And while they may be notorious for their cunning, it’s their ability to learn and adapt that makes them truly fascinating.
So the next time you see a fox darting off with a trainer or sandal in its mouth, remember that you’re witnessing more than just mischief. You’re seeing a glimpse of fox culture in action, a testament to their cleverness, adaptability, and shared social learning.
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