The red fox is the most common and widespread fox species in the world, found throughout most of the United States.
CREDIT: Kaido Karner | shutterstock
The red fox is the most common and widespread fox species in the world, found throughout most of the United States.
CREDIT: Kaido Karner | shutterstock
The red fox is the most common and widespread fox species in the world, found throughout most of the United States.
CREDIT: Kaido Karner | shutterstock
Foxes are a species of omnivorous mammals characterized by a long snout and bushy tail. They are part of the family Canidae which include wolves, jackals and dogs. Foxes typically weigh around 13 pounds (5.9 kg) and are the size of a small to medium domestic dog.
The most common species of fox is the red fox found on nearly every continent. They are solitary animals that have a distinct red fur with black-tipped feet and a white-tipped tail. Other species of foxes include the Artic fox, gray fox, fennec fox, crab –eating fox and kit fox.
Foxes are either solitary or live in small family groups. They most often eat rodents, small birds, amphibians and fruit. Foxes are able to live successfully near humans in urban environments. Their clever foraging skills and use in hunting have garnered the fox a reputation for being cunning animals.
Other facts about foxes
Foxes typically live three years in the wild but can live up to 10 years in captivity.
Male foxes are known as dogs, tods or reynards, and females are called vixens.
The small, slender body of a Red fox allows it to run nearly 30 miles per hour.
The Fennec fox is the smallest species of fox with a body size between 9 to 16 inches.
Fox hunting was a popular recreation sport in England since the 1500s. Hunting foxes without the aid of dogs is still practiced in the U.K. and several other countries including the United States.
In folklore, foxes are typically characterized as cunning creatures sometimes having magical powers.
Foxes can eat up to several pounds of food a day. What they don’t eat, they often bury under leaves or snow for later.
In the wild, fox cubs can fall prey to eagles. Coyotes, gray wolves, bears, mountain lions are all predators for adult foxes.
Foxes have excellent hearing. They can hear low-frequency sounds and rodents digging underground.
Other resources:
American Museum of Natural History: Moose
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