The fennec fox is similar in appearance and life-style to the North American kit fox. Fennec foxes eat various foods including dates and plant materials, jerboas and other small rodents, birds, eggs, lizards and insects such as migrating locusts. Like the kit fox, they catch rodents with a mouse-like leap, springing off the ground and landing with front feet on the prey. Fennecs will drink water when it is available, but can survive for long periods on moisture obtained from their food. Digging for plant roots is one important source of moisture.
Fennec foxes can dig with great speed, and when pursued, seems almost to dive into the sand.
When threatened they can leap nearly four times their body length from a standing position. Although most fox species are solitary, Fennecs are more social, often living in small groups of up to 10 in burrows. They scent-mark territories with urine. Breeding once a year in January or February, males and females may pair for several breeding seasons. Litters of two to five are born in March or April.