Species: Vulpes vulpes
Red Fox
Species
Show on Lists
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Vulpes
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
renard roux
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Carnivores
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Carnivora - Canidae - Vulpes - ).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Opportunistic omnivore; eats whatever is available--small mammals, carrion, birds, insects, fruit, human refuse, etc. Rabbits and mice are common prey. Often uses same foraging route.
Reproduction Comments
Breeds in winter. Gestation lasts 51-56 (average 53) days. Litter of 1-10 (average 4-5) young is born in March-April. Young are weaned in 8-10 weeks, when young leave den and learn to hunt with parents. Male and female may divide young between two dens. Young become independent in fall. Sexually mature the winter after their birth.
Ecology Comments
Summer home range varies greatly, 142-1280 acres (Ables 1969); winter ranges more extensive; home range diameter usually 2-4 km, up to 8 km or more if food scarce (see Caire et al. 1989). Social groups in a city in England exhibited drifting territoriality; ranges averaged about 40 ha (Doncaster and MacDonald 1991). In Japan, spring-summer home range was 357-631 ha; foxes moved about 6 km each night in going from village to village (Cavallini, 1992, J. Mamm. 73:321-325). Averages one family (about 7 foxes) per 4 sq miles (Baker 1983). May be excluded by coyote from some areas of otherwise suitable habitat.
Length
103
Weight
6800
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-15
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-15
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.AB=S5&CA.BC=S5&CA.LB=S5&CA.MB=S5&CA.NB=S5&CA.NF=S5&CA.NT=S4&CA.NS=S5&CA.NU=SNR&CA.ON=S5&CA.PE=S5&CA.QC=S5&CA.SK=S5&CA.YT=S5&US.AL=S4&US.AK=S5&US.AZ=S3&US.AR=S4&US.CA=SNR&US.CO=S5&US.CT=S5&US.DE=S5&US.DC=S4&US.FL=SNR&US.GA=S5&US.ID=S5&US.IL=S5&US.IN=S4&US.IA=S4&US.KS=S4&US.KY=S5&US.LA=S4&US.ME=S5&US.MD=S5&US.MA=S5&US.MI=S5&US.MN=SNR&US.MS=S4&US.MO=SNR&US.MT=S5&US.NN=S5&US.NE=S5&US.NV=S3&US.NH=S5&US.NJ=S5&US.NM=S3&US.NY=S5&US.NC=S5&US.ND=SNR&US.OH=SNR&US.OK=S3&US.OR=S4&US.PA=S5&US.RI=S5&US.SC=SNR&US.SD=S5&US.TN=SE&US.TX=S4&US.UT=S5&US.VT=S5&US.VA=S5&US.WA=S5&US.WV=S5&US.WI=S4&US.WY=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
Holarctic. Throughout North America north of Mexico except for parts of the Southwest (but see Mikesic and Larue 2003) and Rocky Mountains. Though the species is native to North America, introductions were made in eastern North America during colonial times, resulting in increased numbers and/or range expansion in some areas. Range expanded in North Amercia in the 1900s (Nowak 1991).