When a group contains several females they are generally kin. In much of North America, social groups are just pairs. Where groups include additional adult females, the largest groups occur in rural-suburban habitat and average more than three females. Only a minority of females in large groups rear pups. Nonbreeding females tend to be socially subordinate to breeding ones, and some act as helpers.
Red foxes can survive in a variety of habitats.
Dense forests are usually avaoided. In rural areas they prefer diverse habitats consisting of intermixed cropland, rolling farmland, brush, pastureland, mixed hardwood stands, and edges of open areas that provide suitable hunting grounds. The size of individual red fox home range varies. Dens are prepared in late winter at which time the female restricts her activities to the vicinity of the den site. There is a preference for loose soils on well-drained sites near or within vegetative cover.