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Red Fox

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Canidae
Genus Vulpes
Species V. vulpes
Lifespan 3-7 years
Size 38-42 inches long, 14-16 inches at shoulder, weight 8-12 pounds
Offspring 4 to 5 kits
Speed up to 33 mph
Status Common
Red Fox

About Red Foxes

How can you recognize a red fox?

Foxes are members of the dog family (Canidae) but are small and lean and are the only wild North American canids with a white-tipped tail.  Soft, dense fur is various shades of red while the chin, neck, chest and belly are white. Legs and back of ears are black. Winter fur is thick and their bushy, cylindrical tails keep their faces and feet warm when they curl up to sleep on winter snow.

Where are red foxes found?

Red foxes are the widest ranging carnivore in the world occurring in North America, Asia, Europe and North Africa and have been introduced to Australia. They are in all states except Hawaii and live throughout Canada. The forest-field ecotone is an ideal place to spot foxes – this is the transition zone between these two natural communities and this “edge” holds many of the small mammals that foxes eat. Foxes have a home range of one to five square miles which includes forests, fields, brushy land and swamps.

Red foxes are opportunists.  What does that mean?

As opportunists, foxes eat what is available – rodents such as mice, voles, chipmunks, woodchuck, as well as insects, frogs, earthworms, carrion, nuts, grains, wild fruits and berries such as blackberries, wild grapes and apples. Surplus food is cached for later by digging a hole and covering the remains with dirt and grass.

How does a red fox hunt?

Red foxes are very inquisitive and often use their senses of smell and hearing to locate prey. Foxes can hear the sound of a mouse rustling in the grass 150-300 feet away. Stalking may be followed by a leap into the air as the fox pounces on the prey and pins it to the ground with its front paws. Hearing of red foxes is best for low frequency sounds made by animals rustling in leaves or gnawing. Sense of sight is also good, especially in detecting movement.

How do red foxes raise their young?

Breeding season for red foxes is mid-January to late February. With a gestation period of 51-56 days, foxes give birth in late March through April. Male foxes bring food to the den for the first week while the female cares for the kits. At three months the young begin learning to hunt with the adults and are independent by fall.


Fun Facts!

  • Foxes communicate their home range to other foxes by marking with urine that has a distinct skunk like odors. Even humans can detect this smell! They also leave scat in obvious places. 
  • Fox sounds include yaps or barks, long howls, and screeches.

Mammals

American Mink
American Mink
Black Bear
Black Bear
Bobcat
Bobcat
Coyote
Coyote
Fisher
Fisher
Gray Fox
Gray Fox
Mountain Lion
Mountain Lion
Red Fox
Red Fox
River Otter
River Otter
White-footed Mouse
White-footed Mouse
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer

Birds

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Goshawk
Goshawk
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Reptiles and Amphibians

American Bullfrog
American Bullfrog
Gray Tree Frog
Gray Tree Frog
Green Frog
Green Frog
Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle

Fish

Brook Trout
Spotted Turtle
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
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