Sound-Source Localization by the Red Fox

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Abstract
Vocalizations of prey species are sometimes pure-toned calls, which are more difficult to locate than multifrequency calls. Vertebrates do not locate all pure-toned sounds with the same accuracy. In a controlled test we determined how well nine red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) located 13 different frequencies of pure sound, ranging from 300 hertz to 34 kilohertz. Using food as a reward, the foxes were trained to choose the correct location of a 74 ± 4 decibel (re 0.0002 dynes/square centimeter) sound signal emitted from one of two possible loudspeaker positions. The foxes located the sound source best from 0.9 to 14 kilohertz (> 90 percent accuracy) with a slight decrease in accuracy at 8.5 kilohertz (84 percent accuracy). They had the most difficulty locating the source at 0.3, 0.6, 18, and 34 kilohertz (≤ 78 percent accuracy). Foxes appear to readily locate a wide range of sound frequencies, and may have maximized their chances for locating certain calls which are presumably difficult to locate.

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