Red Fox Facts

Originally an endemic species of North America, Eurasia and Northern Africa, the red fox or the Vulpes vulpes, can be found around the world in diverse habitats. The red fox is known for its exceptional cleverness, intelligence, cunning and adaptability. This is why, as I was saying, the creature's resourcefulness, which is defined as the quality of being able to cope with a difficult situation, has earned it being referred to as 'the fox' in many places.

The animal is of the size of a large cat. Although the red fox belongs to the member of the dog family, there are certain behavior patterns exhibited by this animal, which mimic those of a feline. The animal has a predominantly rusty red coat or fur (which may vary from dark chestnut to golden) with white underbelly thus, its name. Its ear tips and legs are black, and its tail has a pronounced bushy make, with normally a white tip. More red fox facts coming up in the following.

Facts and Information on Red Fox

Habitat Facts

As aforesaid, the red fox has its habitat diversified in a number of biomes around the world. It may be spotted in forests, grasslands, mountains and deserts. The distribution is not only limited to prairies and shrubland to forest settings. This animal may also be a familiar sight in human environment such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. According to studies, the red fox population, in recent times, has been known to be dominant mostly in parts of North America and Eurasia, and southern Australia. To give you a quick list of the various environment settings inhabited by this animal, it includes:

• Beech wood
• Chalk grassland
• Coniferous forest
• Farmland
• Mediterranean forest
• Oak wood
• Parkland
• Tropical coniferous forest
• Tropical dry forest
• Tropical grassland

Feeding Facts

The red fox is omnivorous, hunts alone, and lives on a flexible diet. It has on its menu, prey that can range from insects to cranes. Invertebrates, such as insects, mollusks, earthworms and crayfish form a major part of the animal's diet. Rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, amphibians, small reptiles, small fish, and other small games also come in the food list of this hunter, and so do fruits like blackberries, apples, plums, etc., and vegetables. In some areas, the fox can live solely on plant food, in autumn. Living in human settlements, the animal may also survive on garbage and pet food. Precisely, the red fox is opportunistic, and is well-known to adjust to any kind of food, and this is what that makes it adapt to a variety of environmental circumstances.

Reproduction Facts

Reproduction of the red foxes depends on its geographic location. For instance, population residing in the southern regions, has its breeding season from December to January, while for those in the northern parts, the mating season falls in between February to April. Now for the central population, January to February is considered to be the ideal time for reproduction. A female red fox will undergo mating with several males, but eventually settles down with only one. 51 to 53 days is the typical gestation period. A litter size can be of 2 cubs and in some cases, 12. As a red fox cub reaches the end of its first month, it will develop a new red coat. However, not all cubs grow up to be red, as there may be some which are golden, reddish-brown, silver, or even black. The cubs are looked after by both the parents through the summer, and by the time fall sets in, they become mature enough to fend for themselves.

Some Quick Red Fox Facts

• As already mentioned, a red fox exhibits certain behavior which are similar to those of a cat.
• The animal is reputed to be one of the major threats to poultry farming. And thanks to the animal's voracious hunting behavior, it has also earned the reputation of being in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species.
• The red fox's bushy tail serves as a mechanism for the animal to maintain a steady balance. Apart from this, the bushy fur keeps the animal from the pangs of cold weather.
• The animal makes a signal to its other kinds, by urinating on trees, posts or rocks.
• The animal has an elongated body, and is known for its agility. It can easily jump over a fence 2 meter high. It is also capable of swimming.
• The fox is known to produce 28 different calls to communicate with its group members.
• A group of these animals has a mated pair as the dominant individuals, who are in the position of taking control of breeding. Also, the offspring of this very pair act as assistants whose main job is to help their parents to tend to new cubs.
• Although the red fox is known to feed on anything edible, moles may be the last on its menu as its taste is disliked by the animal.
• When the cubs are born, they have blue eyes. But later the eyes change to amber. This color transformation takes about 4 - 5 weeks.
• When there is an excess of food, the red fox will partially bury its food, covering it with soil, leaves, grass or the like, and mark it with urine. This the animal does to preserve the food for future use.
• In case you weren't aware, a group of foxes is known as a skulk, and a juvenile of the animal is known as a kit.
• Given the high population of the red fox, its species is popular in fur trade.
• During winters, an adult red fox may be found curled up like a ball, and completely covered with snow.
• Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease the red fox is prone to contract. It is caused by parasitic mites, which embed themselves into the hair follicles or skin.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature puts the red fox species in the list of the Least Concern for extinction.

To conclude with one last fact on this red hunter of the wild, its species is known to have outnumbered that of the gray wolf, as the most widespread canines in the wild. Way to go red fox!