red fox, (Vulpes vulpes),species offox (familyCanidae) found throughoutEurope,temperateAsia, northernAfrica, andNorth America. It has the largest natural distribution of any landmammal except human beings. First introduced toAustralia in the 19th century, it has since established itself throughout much of thecontinent.

Widely held as a symbol ofanimal cunning, the red fox is the subject of considerablefolklore. In addition, red foxes arehunted for sport and for their fur and are raised commercially for pelts.

Physical characteristics

Red foxes are generally about 90–105 cm (36–42 inches) long—about 35–40 cm (14–16 inches) of this being the tail—and stand about 40 cm tall at the shoulder. Most adults weigh about 5–7 kg (10–15 pounds), but the largest individuals may approach 14 kg (31 pounds). The red fox has a coat of long guard hairs and soft fine underfur that is typically a rich reddish brown. Itstail is often white-tipped, and it has black ears andlegs. Its colour, however, is variable. In North America, black and silver coats are found, with a variable amount of white or white-banded hair occurring in a black coat, and these animals are sometimes calledsilver foxes. A form called thecross, or brant, fox is yellowish brown with a black cross extending between the shoulders and down the back. It is found in both North America and the Old World. TheSamson fox is a mutant strain of red fox found in northwestern Europe. It lacks the long guard hairs, and the underfur is tightly curled.

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Predators and prey

The preferred habitat of red foxes is a mixed landscape—made up of patches offorests,grasslands, and other land-use types—but they live inenvironments ranging from Arctictundra to ariddesert. Red foxes adapt very well to human presence, thriving in areas with farmland and woods, andpopulations can be found in many largecities, suburbs, and otherurban ecosystems.Mice,voles, andrabbits, as well aseggs,fruit, andbirds, make up most of the diet, but foxes readily eat other available food such as carrion,grain (especiallysunflower seeds), garbage, petfood left unattended overnight, and domesticpoultry.

By the middle of the 20th century,wolves and other large predators, whoseaggressive behaviour and territoriality tend to check the activities of red foxes, had been largely removed by humans from the urban and agricultural areas of Europe and North America. This development has allowed red foxes—as well as other medium-sized predators (ormesopredators) such ascoyotes andraccoons—to hunt,forage, and breed without fear of encountering a larger, more-aggressivecompetitor, which, in turn, has allowed red foxes to place substantial hunting pressure onbirds and other prey. On the prairies of North America, it is estimated that red foxes kill close to one millionwild ducks each year. Their impact on domestic birds and some wild game birds has led to their numbers often being regulated near game farms and bird-production areas.

Red foxes, like many species that have moved into urban areas, continue to adapt to conditions presented by human-dominated environments. Most of theseadaptations are behavioral, such as becoming morenocturnal and more aggressive inurban ecosystems; however, some biologists also note that urban foxes have developed shorter and wider snouts and smaller braincases compared with their rural counterparts.

The red fox is hunted for sport and for itspelt, which is a mainstay of the fur trade (see alsofoxhunting). Fox pelts, especially those of silver foxes, are commonly produced on fox farms, where the animals are raised until they are fully grown at approximately 10 months of age. In much of their range, red foxes are the primary carrier ofrabies. Several countries, especially theUnited Kingdom andFrance, have extensive culling andvaccination programs aimed at reducing the incidence of rabies in red foxes.

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Breeding

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Red foxes mate inwinter. After agestation period of seven or eight weeks, the female (vixen) gives birth to 1–10 or more (5 is average) young (kits, cubs, or pups). Birth takes place in a den, which is commonly aburrow abandoned by another animal. It is often enlarged by the parent foxes. The cubs remain in the den for about five weeks and are cared for by both parents throughout thesummer. The youngdisperse in the fall once they are fully grown and independent.