Red Fox Scientific Name: Classification & Facts

Red foxes can be regarded as being the largest species of true foxes in the world. They belong to the Carnivora and Canidae. Red Foxes can be related to being from the family of domestic dogs and wolves. Red foxes have a good distribution – with populations extending the whole length of the hemisphere – from North America and Europe to Asia.

This animal is known to be very opportunistic as it generally thrives near human settlements. Red foxes are also introduced to other places, such as Australia, where it is considered an invasive species – causing ecological damage as it is a threat to many native birds and mammals. Birds, Rabbits, and Small reptiles become a part of the red fox’s diet. 

Red foxes have long snouts and red fur across the face, back, sides, and tail. Their throat, chin, and belly are grayish-white. Red foxes possess large and pointy black feet and black-tipped ears. One of the foremost noticeable characteristics of the red fox is the fluffy white-tipped tail. Red foxes have a good height of about three feet long and two feet tall.

Red Fox vs Gray Fox

Red foxes are often confused with gray foxes, which share an identical habitat and range. This can make identification difficult because some red foxes can have large patches of gray fur and grey foxes have patches of red fur. Gray foxes are somewhat smaller and have a rather more rounded face and shorter snout. The foolproof manner to tell the difference is to seem for the colour at the tip of the tail. Gray foxes have black-tipped tails as compared to the red foxs’ tails that are white. Although they're very similar in name only and appearance, the grey fox and therefore the red fox are only distant cousins, belonging to different genera within the Canidae.

Range of Red Foxes 

Throughout the continental United States from Alaska to Florida, Red foxes can be found. The smallest population is within the Southwest, where it's very rare to ascertain a red fox. Red foxes roam around and can be witnessed in open areas in woodlands, rural and suburban neighbourhoods, wetlands, and brushy fields.

Diet 

Red foxes prefer rodents and rabbits, but they also eat birds, amphibians, and fruit. Red foxes also steal food from garbage cans or farms. Their ability to seek out food, even during the winter, is one reason why red foxes have a reputation for being cunning and smart.

Life History 

Red foxes mate in winter. Right after mating, a female builds a den. Females can deliver anywhere between one and 12 pups per litter. Pups are born brown or gray, usually turning red within a few months. Both parents look out for their offspring until subsequent fall, when the young foxes begin on their own.

Conservation

Red foxes have adjusted themselves well to the suburban and rural communities. While other large predators are pushed faraway from human development, red foxes took advantage of the changed habitat. They sleep in parks and woodland edges, and red foxes will readily eat whatever is out there. Red foxes are solitary, so it's easy for them to cover and escape people.

Fun Fact

Red foxes have excellent hearing. They have the capability to hear low-frequency sounds and rodents digging underground.