Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Animal Class: Mammals

Size: 14-20 inches tall, 18-35 inches long, with tails 11-22 inches long

Weight: 5-31 pounds, much lighter than similarly sized dogs.

Lifespan: 3-4 years in the wild. They can live 10 years or more in human care.

Diet: Primarily meat, but they’re opportunistic omnivores and will eat a variety of fruits and grasses, too.

Habitat: Red foxes are highly adaptable and native to most of the world north of the Tropic of Cancer. They’ve also been introduced to Australia.

Description: Red foxes are a common and successful species. They’re mostly solitary and crepuscular, solo hunting in the early morning and late evening. 

Foxes are vocal with a wide range of communication noises. They also use scent marking and body language to communicate.

Red foxes reproduce one per year in the springtime. Females build a den and have between one and 12 pups. The pups stay with their parents–both male and female foxes care for their young–for about a year. Outside of raising pups, foxes only dig burrows for bad weather. They prefer to live out in open areas with thick vegetation.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Our Animals: Fred and Adalynn.