Red Fox

Red Fox - (Vulpes vulpes)

During our first spring in this house, we saw a fox and her two kits. They would often scurry across our backyard at dusk. This spring we have only seen one lone fox. They all seemed to have a busy, furtive air about them. They have no business with us, we are only a shortcut to a secret somewhere else.

Red Fox

The fox is a beautiful animal but seems a little scary and mysterious to me. I suppose that feeling comes from a childhood filled with fables and fairy tales.. In truth, the fox is a very adaptable and intelligent creature. I'm thinking they are proud of their folk lore reputation of being notoriously sly and cunning. Certainly they're clever enough to avoid posing for my camera.

Size:	Total Length: 33-42 in Tail Length: 14-18 in Weight: 7-15 lb
ID:	Male: Called Reynard; medium size; reddish brown above; long legs with black stockings; black ears; narrow muzzle; white underparts; long bushy tail is mix of black and reddish hair with white on tip Female: Called vixen slightly smaller than male
Habitat:	Forest edges, mixed habitats of fields and brush, farmland, suburbs with wooded or scrubby ravines
Diet:	Carnivorous; rodents, poultry, insects, fruit and berries, rabbits, birds, carrion and garbage ; often stores excess food in caches near den entrance covering with leaves, soil or snow and marked with urine ; forages and hunts alone
Family Behavior:	Mating Habits: Pair bonds for long term Den: Born in underground dens with several entrances (openings 8-15 inches across); located under piles of wood, under tree roots, in hillsides, abandoned woodchuck burrows Young: 4-10 kits born in March or April (gestation of 52 days); blind and helpless, weighing 3-8 ounces; nurse for 10 weeks; fed regurgitated food by both parents; fully independent at 7 weeks
Activities:	Stalks prey closely, then leaps (as high as 15 feet) pins down prey with front paws; pair occupies and defends territory (150 to 1500 acres)
Predators and Dangers:	Bobcat and coyote
Vocalization:	High -pitched barks
Lifespan:	3-7 years in the wild

Red Fox

Red Fox - (Vulpes vulpes)

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