14/04/2026
Coitive Knot
by
If you ever spot two foxes (or any species in the canid family) looking like they're stuck butt-to-butt, don't freak out; they're not in any trouble. This is actually a normal part of fox romance. It's called the "copulatory tie," and it's all about making sure those future fox pups have the best chance of coming into the world.
When foxes mate, things get a bit, well, snug. The male's p***s swells up inside the female, and voilà - they're locked together. It might look like a bizarre dance, but this tie is nature's way of upping the odds for successful breeding. The male's little swimmers get ample time to reach their destination, and other would-be Romeo foxes get the hint to back off.
This can last from just a few moments to over an hour, which sounds exhausting. You might see them trying to pull away from each other, but they're not in pain or danger; it's just a bit of an awkward moment in their relationship.