Red Fox Paw Print
 

Red Fox:

The Red Fox is doglike in appearance, with an elongated pointed muzzle, long pointed ears, long legs, long fur and a long bushy tail.  Their color ranges from a yellowish red to dark red on the back.  The tail is yellowish red with black and tipped in white.  While running the fox uses it's tail for balance and in sleep the tail covers and warms his feet and nose.  Cheeks, neck and belly are whitish and the legs have black stockings.  Eye pupils are vertically elliptical.  The average adult weight is 8 to 15 pounds.  Their lifespan is 6 to 10 years in the wild.


Adult Red Fox
   
Red Foxes are both nocturnal and crepuscular (active early morning and early evening).  You might see one sunning on the lawn.  They do no form packs, but they do have family units when young are involved.  Otherwise, adults are primarily solitary.  Dens are used for birthing and raising young and in the winter.  Otherwise the fox sleeps on the ground with no special home.  Red Fox are good swimmers and prefer to run than fight, and are considered adept at outwitting their pursuers.


Red Fox Pup
   
Geographic Range:

The Red Fox has the widest geographical range of any member of the Carnivore family. It is distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the Asiatic steppes. The Red Fox is found throughout the majority of the US including Alaska and throughout Canada. It is not found in the southwestern parts of the States or Mexico.
   

Food Preferences:

Red Foxes are considered omnivorous, but prefer rabbits, mice, rats, birds, poultry and small livestock as well as insects.  The fox sneaks along until it hears a rustle of a mouse in the grass.  Then it turns its head from side to side, using its wonderful ears to find the exact location of its prey.  The fox will stalk its prey and then pounce on it much like a cat.  They may kill more than they eat and caches excess for later consumption.  Foxes also like eggs, nuts, berries, grapes and other plants.


Red Fox Pup
   

Enemies:

Humans, automobiles, dogs, mites, ticks, fleas, parasitic worms, distemper and rabies.



Red Fox Pup