Red fox move when coyotes are present. Juvenile red fox begin to wander from family units during August and September. Significant dispersal's occur during the months of November , December and January as young fox seek their own territories and mates. Many older red fox who have lost mates also seek new mates. Males seem to travel further than females.
Many females prefer to stay in the same territory, even if they have lost their mates.
Dispersal distances vary a great deal and are unpredictable. Two Wisconsin red fox were tagged in August of 1962. One of the juvenile male fox was killed the following March 245 miles away in Indiana and the litter mate was killed in June, just 300 yards away from the original den site. Red fox like to climb up on things in order to get a better view, but they are poor tree climbers. Fox usually avoid getting wet, but they can and do swim when they are forced to.