Red Fox

### Habitat

Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia

### Diet

berries, birds, squirrels, rabbits and mice

### Weight

0.12 pound (0.06 kg) – 0.22 pound (0.10 kg) (Newborn) · 4.85 pound (2.20 kg) – 30.86 pound (14 kg)

## Red Fox

The **red fox** (*Vulpes vulpes*), largest of the **red fox** has the greatest geographic range of all members of the family, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Artic Cricle to, North Africa and Eurasia. Red foxes are usually together in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target Rabbits, Game Birds, Reptiles, and Invertebrates and young. Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten sometimes. Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as Wolves, Coyotes, Golden Jackals, and medium- and large-sized felines.

### Bulid

The red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs. The tail, which is longer than half the body length (70 per cent of head and body length), is fluffy and reaches the ground when in a standing position. Their pupils are oval and vertically oriented. are present, but move only when the eyes are closed. The forepaws have five digits, while the hind feet have only four and lack . They are very agile, being capable of jumping over 2-m-high fences, and swim well. Vixens normally have four pairs of , though vixens with seven, nine, or ten teats are not uncommon. The of males are smaller than those of Arctic foxes.

### Fur

The winter fur is dense, soft, silky and relatively long. For the northern foxes, the fur is very long, dense and fluffy, but is shorter, sparser and coarser in southern forms. Among northern foxes, the North American varieties generally have the silkiest , while most Eurasian red foxes have coarser fur. There are three main ; red, silver/black and cross (see ). In the typical red morph, their coats are generally bright reddish-rusty with yellowish tints. A stripe of weak, diffuse patterns of many brown-reddish-chestnut hairs occurs along the spine. Two additional stripes pass down the shoulder blades, which, together with the spinal stripe, form a cross. The lower back is often a mottled silvery colour. The flanks are lighter coloured than the back, while the chin, lower lips, throat and front of the chest are white. The remaining lower surface of the body is dark, brown or reddish. During lactation, the belly fur of vixens may turn brick red. The upper parts of the limbs are rusty reddish, while the paws are black. The frontal part of the face and upper neck is bright brownish-rusty red, while the upper lips are white. The backs of the ears are black or brownish-reddish, while the inner surface is whitish.

### Behaviour

Red foxes either establish stable home ranges within particular areas or are itinerant with no fixed abode. They use their . A male fox raises one hind leg and his urine is sprayed forward in front of him, whereas a female fox squats down so that the urine is sprayed in the ground between the hind legs. Urine is also used to mark empty cache sites, used to store found food, as reminders not to waste time investigating them. The use of up to 12 different urination postures allows them to precisely control the position of the scent mark. Red foxes live in family groups sharing a joint territory. In favourable habitats and/or areas with low hunting pressure, subordinate foxes may be present in a range. Subordinate foxes may number one or two, sometimes up to eight in one territory. These subordinates could be formerly animals, but are mostly young from the previous year, who act as helpers in rearing the breeding vixen's kits.

### Diet, hunting and feeding

Red foxes are with a highly varied diet. In the former Soviet Union, up to 300 animal and a few dozen plant species are known to be consumed by them. They primarily feed on small rodents like Voles, Mice, Ground Squirrels, Hamsters, Gerbils, Woodchucks, and Deer Mice. Secondary prey species include birds (with Porcupines, Raccoons, Opossums, Reptiles, insects, and On very rare occasions, foxes may attack young or small . They typically target mammals up to about 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) in weight, and they require 500 grams (18 oz) of food daily. Red foxes readily eat plant material, and in some areas fruit can amount to 100% of their diet in autumn.

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