The red fox has the largest geographic distribution of any carnivore in the world.
Primarily nocturnal, it is a shy and nervous hunter and scavenger that will eat everything from insects and small mammals to berries and even human garbage.
The red fox has acute hearing that can pick up the low-frequency sounds of digging and scraping in underground burrows.
When food items are abundant, the fox caches them for harder times.
The primary social unit is the mated pair, and their litters are born in dens dug by the adults or taken over from other mammals, such as badgers, and then modified. Older foxes, usually female, help to provision the litter.
Name: Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Family: Canidae (Dogs and Relatives)
Range: Canada, United States, Europe, Asia, northern Africa
Habitat: Forest to tundra, including cities
Diet: Small mammals, insects, fruit, berries, and garbage
Head and Body Length: 24 to 35 inches (60 to 90 cm)
Tail Length: 12 to 22 inches (30 to 55 cm)
Shoulder Height: 14 to 16 inches (35 to 41 cm)
Weight: 4 to 15 pounds (2 to 7 kg)
Life Cycle: Mating depends on locale, usually January to March; gestation 51 to 63 days, two to ten cubs born
Description: Red, orange or gray fur; sharp, pointed face; yellow eyes; large, black ears; light, agile build; black limbs; bushy, black tail with white tip
Conservation Status: Common
Related Content:
Dog Guide
 Order: Carnivora, Family: Canidae The main characteristic of the black-backed jackal, which gives it its name, is the black hair running from the back of the neck to the tail. The chest is white, and the underparts are white to rusty white, whereas the rest of the body ranges from reddish brown to ginger in appearance. Adults stand about 38 cm (15 inches) at the shoulder and are nearly 1 meter (3 feet) long in length. The head is ...
|
 The term "wily coyote" was possibly coined in response to this intelligent canid's problem-solving abilities when hunting prey.
Coyotes will ambush a ground squirrel by waiting at one of the burrow's exits as a badger digs its way in at the entrance.
When hunting in pairs, one typically distracts the attention of the prey while the other coyote sneaks up from behind.
They will ...
|
 The color of the kit fox, also known as the swift fox, varies according to region.
Nocturnal carnivores, kit foxes prey on rodents, rabbits, hares, and sometimes ground-nesting birds and reptiles.
During the day, they shelter in burrows, which may have up to twenty-four entrances. Each burrow is typically occupied by a single fox.
Cubs are born blind and helpless, and the mother rarely...
|
 The largest canid in the world, the gray wolf spends most of its life in packs, usually of five to ten individuals, that are led by the so-called alpha pair, the only male and female in the pack to breed.
Occasionally the wolf hunts and forages alone.
However, when preying on large animals such as moose and deer, it will hunt with the pack, using a variety of strategies, such as pushing it...
|
 Order: Carnivora, Family: Canidae Resembling a German shepherd dog, the wolf measures 4 1/2 to 6 feet long, including its tail. It stands 26 to 34 inches at the shoulder, and weighs 70 to 110 pounds. Females are generally five to 10 pounds lighter than males.
Its coloring ranges from white to black with combinations of gold, tan, brown and rust (a single litter can contain many colors).
The wolf's canine teeth may be 2 ...
|
 Sudden yelping in the distance sends a terrified plover into the sky. The chaos grows louder, eventually appearing as frenzied movement among the bushes. A low creature scurries through the brush, pursued by miniature, barking canines with enormous ears. Bat-eared foxes, and they've discovered a mongoose. The foxes spin wildly around the animal as it rushes, growling, through the prickled maze...
|
(4.4)
Add Feedback