Red Foxes:
The Red Fox is doglike in appearance, with an
elongated pointed muzzle, long pointed ears, long legs, long body
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
weighs 8 to 15 pounds. Their lifespan is 6 to 10 years in the wild.
Red Foxes are both nocturnal and crepuscular (active early morning
and early evening. You might see one sunning on the lawn. They do
not 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.
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.
Enemies:
Humans, dogs, mange mites, ticks, fleas, parasitic worms, distemper
and rabies
