There is a dark stripe down the back and a small black mane. Parts of the neck, flanks, and legs are rufous, the face and underbelly being white or buff. Dens are located in brushy or woodland areas. The dens are rarely dug by the fox.
Foxes can also use various other denning sites.
Diet includes small vertebrates, especially rabbits, insects, and carrion. Not found in the Rocky Mountains or the far northwest of the United States. The decline of the grey fox, and spread of the red fox, might, as much as anything else, have been the result of changing patterns of land use. Small populations have recolonized parts of southern Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. This trend reflects an increased demand for long-furred species.