Red Foxes

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Range: Northern Hemisphere
Status:

The Red Fox is a small member of the canid (dog) family, found in almost every habitat in the Northern Hemisphere, including coastal marshes, deserts, alpine tundras, grasslands, and forests. It was introduced into Australia in the 19th century, and has thrived there, also.

The Red Fox is extremely adaptable and resourceful. Although classified as a carnivore, they are actually omnivorous. Prey includes insects, mollusks, crayfish, rabbits, and small reptiles and fish. In Scandinavia, they are a major cause of mortality for infant Roe deer. Red Foxes will also eat plants, such as berries, fruits, and seeds. In urban areas, they will scavenge human garbage, and even eat pet food, if it is left outdoors. This ability to use the resources available has led to the fox being portrayed as an intelligent, cunning, and sly animal in many cultures folk tales.

As they tend to be extremely possessive of their food, foxes usually hunt and eat alone. However, males will feed females during courtship, and females will feed their cubs. During times of abundance, foxes tend to store food in shallow (2 to 4 inches) holes, saving this excess against times of starvation.

The skunky aroma you may smell near the foxes enclosure is another way of marking territory. Foxes will urinate on trees, rocks, or fence posts to announce their presence.

In the wild, Red Foxes are about 18 inches to 3 feet long, with their tail making up an additional foot or more in length. Their brushy tail had many purposes: balance, warm cover in the winter, and as a signal flag to other foxes. Foxes can be as heavy as 24 lbs, but most weight between 6 and 15 lbs. Their lives are rather short  only 2 to 4 years.

In some parts of the world, Red Foxes are hunted for sport, though not extensively. They are also sometimes killed by hunters who fear they are destructive pests or carriers of rabies.

Meet Our Red Foxes