Animal facts: Red fox

The red fox now know as the “fox” is the largest of the fox species weighting between 7 and 16 pounds. (Red) Foxes inhabit the United States, Europe, Africa, Canada, Asia and Australia. While subspecies of the (red) fox inhibit many other countries.

The fox is (as its name suggest) a reddish color, it eyes are a goldish yellow color; it has a bushy white tipped tail and a pointy face. It is actually a very cute animal resembling features of both a dog and a cat. Even with its short little legs it can run up to 50 mph.

HABITAT

The fox will live anywhere it feels safe whether in the mountains, prairies, grasslands, deserts, forests and any place that has a plentiful supply of food and shelter.

DIET

The fox’s is diet is primarily carnivorous such as; rabbits, mice, rats, insects birds, fish, and any smaller animal it will also eat fruit and vegetation if “meat” is not available. It stalks its prey then pounces on it sometimes having to depend on its good hearing to locate the prey in the bushes or tall grass. It will only eat a small amount at a time and spreads the leftovers through out its eight to ten mile territory.

Foxes hunt alone and will not share their food unless they are forced to by another animal. Usually causing the fox to leave the meal behind and find another.

The fox hunts during the day and sleeps at night except in areas that are highly populated by humans. As humans pose a threat to the fox it stays out of site during the day.

MATING

Depending on the geographical location foxes mate between December and April usually when the weather is warmer in the region.

Foxes are monogamous animals and the male fox will stay with the female fox until the cubs (kits) are born brining her food and helping prepare the “maternity dens ” (they build two incase one is invaded) four to six weeks after the cubs are born he will leave and return when it is time to mate again.

A litter of four to twelve cubs (or kits) are born after a gestation period of eight weeks. They are born blind and weight as little as a half a pound. They emerge from the den at about a month old. They will leave their mother between six and eight months of age.

PREDATORS

The fox has many predators any wild carnivorous animal that is larger than the fox is considered a predator. Humans hunt foxes for sport and farmers kill them for being a nuisance and trying their chickens and other small livestock.

The average lifespan of the fox is only two to four years. Many of them contact rabies and die or have to be put down.

Sources

www.nationalgeographic.com

www.redfox.org

www.wildlife.com/redfox