Red Fox Fact Sheet
By Nick Kerle
When you think of red foxes, words like sly and cunning might come to mind. You might have seen them sneaking around under your porch or skulking in the woods before disappearing in the thick underbrush. Or you might remember that one weird music video about what foxes say or that other one where a fox dives headfirst into a pile of snow. Red foxes are all of that and more, and Alaska is just one of the many places they call home.
They are one of the largest fox species, but small compared to other canine species in Alaska. They can be found all over the state, most notably in the interior just below the arctic tundra. Even though they’re a dog-like species, their hunting style is actually closer to cats, as they prefer to hunt alone and use short bursts of energy instead of wearing down prey over time. They even jump high like cats, too!
Though they are considered to be an abundant species in the state, they face a few threats which include:
Kill incentives for population/rabies control
Pelt hunting/farming
Environmental changes, especially in the arctic tundra
DID YOU KNOW…
You may remember that catchy song on YouTube that posed the question: What does the fox say? Foxes have a few notable sounds including a cackling laugh, a raspy bark, and a loud scream that’s actually kind of scary
Red foxes can sprint up to 30 mph and jump over 6 ft high
During the winter, red foxes will listen closely to rodent sounds under the snow. When they know their prey is close, they’ll jump really high and crash down on the rodent den to reveal their next meal
Red foxes have whiskers on their legs as well as around their faces, which they use to help them find their way
The red fox is dominant in tundra regions where red and arctic foxes live. In these areas, red foxes will dig up arctic foxes from their dens and attack them
The European red fox is the same species as the American red fox
The red fox’s tail is usually around 60 percent as big as its body
SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES
Vulpes vulpes – Red Fox
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The red fox is a member of the family Canidae, the dog family. They are most commonly known for their reddish fur and black “socks”, but can sport several other colors ranging from dark grey to deep auburn red. The white tip on their fluffy tail sets this fox from other species, regardless of its color phase.
Even though the red fox appears in different color phases, they are all the same species Vulpes vulpes. In a single litter, they can appear black, red, silver, or various mixtures of black and red. Red foxes are referred to by the name of their color (i.e., red, cross, silver, black).
Common colors for the red fox are red, black, silver, and cross. The most common color is the classic red with black legs and feet. Then there are black foxes that are simply black all over. Foxes with silver fur have a grizzled black coat with silver-tipped fur. The cross fox has a black muzzle with reddish-yellow fur and dark banding across the shoulders and back. All red foxes have a white tip on their tail regardless of color.
Red foxes look similar to dogs, wolves, and coyotes, but are much smaller. Their size can range from 3 to 4 feet in length. Their body and head range from 22 to 32 inches (56–82 cm), and their tail is usually around 14 inches to 16 inches (35–43 cm) long. An adult fox weighs anywhere from 6 to 15 pounds (2.7–6.8 kg), though it looks much heavier. The males, or “dogs,” are usually heavier than the females, or “vixens.”
Check out this red fox diving headfirst into snow!
RANGE
The red fox is common in most of northern North America. They can be found in a variety of environments ranging from marshes, prairies, beaches, and tundra, but prefer to den in areas with vegetation cover. They are highly adaptable to their surroundings and can live comfortably in both wild and urban areas. As long as they have food and shelter, they tend to thrive.
Red foxes are solitary animals and defend their home range of around 730 acres. Males have larger ranges than females, though social status and food availability also contribute to the sizes and shapes of home ranges.
The red fox can be found in most areas of Alaska and is most abundant just south of the arctic tundra. But in recent years, climate change has allowed them to move further into the tundra regions alongside Arctic foxes. Red foxes are the dominant species between the two and have been observed attacking Arctic foxes.
Red foxes are less common for some of the islands of Southeast Alaska and the western Aleutians. Those that are found on most islands were introduced in the 1900s for fox farming. Red foxes have been found in the Taku and Stikine river valleys and the Mendenhall Flats and on Douglas Island near Juneau. They can also be found in Prince William Sound, but are not as common.
Learn about “The Secret Life of Foxes” here..
THREATS/CONCERNS
Predators for the red fox include wolves, coyotes, eagles, bears, and lynx, but humans pose the largest threat. Some areas offer rewards for killing red foxes to deter rabies. This may negatively affect certain populations, though no significant studies have been conducted. The red fox population as a whole is thought to be quite large, but specific areas are not as studied.
Additionally, foxes are hunted and farmed for their pelts. It’s not as common as it used to be, but it still happens in small numbers.
Climate change is another concern, particularly for red fox populations moving into the arctic tundra. The red fox isn’t directly in danger of these changes, but its smaller cousin, the Arctic fox, is. The red fox presence in the Arctic tundra has made it harder for the Arctic fox to find food. Red foxes have also been seen attacking and eating Arctic foxes. So far, it appears that Arctic fox populations decrease as Red foxes move in, and biologists are watching closely to see how things turn out.
LIFE HISTORY
Red foxes breed during February and March, giving birth to just one litter every year. They are not usually aggressive towards each other but will have small scuffles just before breeding season. After fending off other suitors, a dominant male will mate with a receptive vixen. Most foxes are thought to mate for life, though some males will also breed with multiple females. Once paired, they will search the woodlands and meadows in search of a den, usually by a riverbank. They will then occupy the same home range, which is determined by the available food supply
Red foxes will sometimes dig their den into the side of a well-drained hill with one or more entrances, usually about ten inches in diameter. More often, though, they find homesites of other animals like marmots or abandoned wolf dens.
Once settled in, pups will be born after a 53-day gestation period. Litters average around 4 to 7 kits but can go as high as 10. At birth, pups weigh about four ounces and start to open their eyes after 10 days.
Pups are nourished on a diet of milk and semi-digested meat, which is provided by their parents. The male will hunt for the family until they open their eyes and start crawling. After the kits are able to move around, he will relieve the female while she goes hunting.
As the cubs are being weaned, both parents will hunt for themselves and will bring back small game for the cubs to play with. This helps the kits learn what prey smells like and eventually how to eat it. Playing also helps the pups get used to their bodies, which is good practice for chasing down fast prey.
The family leaves the den when the young foxes are around 3 months old at which time, they’ve become less dependent on their parents. The kits mature during the summer as they stay close to their parents and eventually learn to hunt. In late autumn the pups leave the parents and go their individual ways. The young foxes that survive the first winter will likely produce a litter of their own the following spring.
Check out these cute red fox kits from Colorado...
DIET
The red fox is omnivorous. They prefer to eat voles but will also eat small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, vegetation, and carrion. They will hunt for and store excess food in caches and will return when extra food is needed.
Like most dogs, foxes hunt by smell, sight, and sound. However, it also has many feline characteristics like catlike whiskers, teeth, paws, and vertical-slit pupils. They can smell hidden nests of young hares or eggs and will wait patiently for the sound of a mouse moving under inches of ground, grass, or snow. They will then pounce or dig quickly at the source of the sound and locate the prey by its scent.
Watch another video about how the red fox hunts in the snow!
RED FOX COLORING SHEET
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Information obtained from: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Denali Education Center, The Alaska Zoo, Natural Habitat Adventures, and American Museum of Natural History
