Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red fox, wild member of the dog family found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widespread of all canines and the largest of all foxes. The red fox is known in folklore for its cleverness and cunning. Despite their reputation as a menace, red foxes play an important role by controlling rodents in agricultural areas.

As their name suggests, red foxes are distinguished by their vivid reddish-brown fur. The underside of the head, neck, and belly is white, while the legs and feet are usually black. The bushy red tail is tipped with black or white.

Red foxes are 90 to 105 cm (36 to 42 in) long, not including the tail. On average, they weigh about 7 kg (about 15 lb). Males are slightly heavier than females.

Red foxes eat rodents and other small mammals, insects, chickens and other birds, eggs, fish, earthworms, or fruit. They can detect mice and rodents under a layer of snow with their keen hearing. If they obtain more food than they can immediately eat, they bury it in the ground for times when food is scarce. They also are scavengers and will raid garbage sites. Red foxes are most active at night. Male red foxes stake out a territory, which they share with three or four females, called vixens. Only the highest-ranking vixen bears the pups.

Despite these pressures, red fox populations are thriving, and in some parts of their range, red foxes are becoming more numerous.