Vulpes vulpes
Range
The red fox is common in many places all over the world, including Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America.Habitat
They are found in all habitats; including woodlands, farms, urban and coastal areas.Body Traits
They are easy to identify with their reddish body, white tipped, fluffy tail and black legs. They weigh about 10 pounds.Habits
Mostly active at night (nocturnal), red fox are also often seen during daylight hours on golf courses or open fields, trotting along with their fluffy tails held out. They travel alone. They can carry rabies.Diet
They are scavengers, eating what they can find, but will also hunt and kill small animals and raid nests for eggs.Predators
Their main predator is man.Reproduction
Red fox breed once a year, mating in January or February. The females are pregnant for about 7 weeks (gestation), having 4-5 pups. They have their young in dens dug under trees roots, piles of brush or even trash. They will also den in tree cavities or rocky crevices. Males will stay to help raise young.Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
They live for about 3 years in the wild. They are not threatened.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae
- Genus: Vulpes
- Species: Vulpes vulpes