Red foxes have a reputation for being resourceful. It’s what has allowed them to thrive in all sorts of environments, even when humans have taken over. They are canids, mammals, and omnivores.1 They weigh anywhere between 6 and 15 pounds and are 22-32 inches long, not including the tail, which adds another 14-16 inches.2 Their tails help keep them balanced and also provide an extra layer of protection from the cold during winter.1
They can be found throughout the United States, in areas that have forests, grassland, mountains, or desert.1&3 Most often you’ll see these foxes with red fur with some black and white accents in certain areas like the feet or the chin.3 However, some varying colors can occur in these foxes, such as silver or black, but this is a rare occurrence.2
Red foxes pair up and mate during the winter. Females will give birth to 1-12 pups. These pups aren’t born red, but the red fur will develop after about a month.3 Red foxes will use dens as wolves do. Sometimes they’ll dig it out themselves and other times they’ll enlarge dens that have already been built by other animals. Their dens are usually 15-20 feet long.2
Red foxes will prey on:1&3
- Rabbits
- Frogs
- Fish
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Birds
- Rodents
- Garbage
- Pet food
In turn, these predators will hunt down red foxes:2
- Lynxes
- Pumas
- Bears
- Eagles
- Wolves
- Coyotes
- Humans
Red foxes usually live to be 2-4 years old in the wild. Overall, they’re considered to be of Least Concern by the IUCN.1 Unlike other animals that have suffered from human activity and expansion, red foxes have figured out a way to survive in our habitats.3
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