Species Spotlight: Red Fox
Looks like: The size of a small dog, the red fox can be up to 25 inches long. It has a long, bushy tail and weighs up to 15 pounds. It is usually reddish-yellow with black legs, feet, and ears.
Lives in: A mix of fields and forests. Foxes den in burrows they dig in the ground.
Niche: Foxes are omnivores, feeding on rabbits, mice, grouse, eggs, insects, and fruit. In the winter, they often store what they kill under the snow to eat later. Owls, hawks, and coyotes sometimes prey on pups.
Threats: Foxes are hunted for their thick fur and are sometimes hit by cars.
Frequency: Common
Reproduction: Breeding occurs in February or March and pups are born about a month later. They stay in the den for a month with both parents, but strike out on their own by the fall.
Fun facts: Adults think ahead: just in case bad weather disturbs their den, they maintain a spare one. Although foxes are most active at dawn, dusk, and nighttime, they are sometimes seen during the day.
