Ever seen a black backed fox?

[BruceV8]

For two days running now I have seen what appeared to be a very large fox with a black back: The first time my dog chased it and it ran off but today I got a chance to fairly good look at it

As it turned and walked off I could clearly see that while its body colour was a dirty light brown its back was black

I have never seen a fox marked like that before and neither have some experienced game keepers I know

At the risk of sounding like a cryptozoological mentalist the only thing that I have ever seen that looks like that is an African Black Backed Jackal: I checked my wildlife books when I got home and that is the closest match I can find: Its not really what one expects in a semi rural area on the edge of London

So can anyone confirm that UK foxes can look like that or am I doomed to be forever known as the loony who thinks that there are jackals living in Middlesex?

[SWH]

Yep, remember seeing one like that when I was a kid.... deepest darkest Devon, mid 1980s.

There was one with a black back, and another with a darker colouring pretty much all over, more on the hair tips I think.


...either that or it had walked under something oily and had a good scratch

[BruceV8]

Phew! Some of my mates are suggesting that I go for drug testing!

I have seen photos of an all black fox but it was not one of those: I"ll take a camera next time

[sinizter]

Have seen one, but not in this country. AFAIK, it is within the range of colour possible.

[BruceV8]

Well a little bit of interner research reveals the existence of the Cross Fox which is a melanistic variation of the Red Fox with colouration thyat would accord with what I saw

This does not clear things up though: Cross Foxes are normally found in North America and ~ very occasionally ~ Scandinavia

[sinizter]

Probably just a fox cross-bred with a dog or something. It can happen.