RED FOX

vulpes vulpes

Facts

Latin Name - Vulpes vulpes
Conservation Status - Least Concern
Location - Most of the Northern Hemisphere
Diet - Omnivore
Colour - Orangey-red/White/Black
Length - 90-105cm
Life Expectancy - 2-5 years

Red Fox, also called common fox, species of fox found throughout Europe, temperate Asia, northern Africa, and North America. It has the largest natural distribution of any land mammal except human beings. First introduced to Australia in the 19th century, it has since established itself throughout much of the continent.

Red foxes adapt very well to human presence, thriving in areas with farmland and woods, and populations can be found in many large cities, suburbs, and other urban ecosystems. Mice, voles, and rabbits, as well as eggs, fruit, and birds, make up most of the diet, but foxes readily eat other available food such as carrion, grain (especially sunflower seeds), garbage, pet food left unattended overnight, and domestic poultry.

what do they look like?

Appearance

Red foxes are generally about 90–105 cm long, about 35–40 cm of this being the tail and stand about 40 cm tall at the shoulder. Most adults weigh about 5–7 kg, but the largest individuals may approach 14 kg (31 pounds). The red fox has a coat of long guard hairs and soft fine underfur that is typically a rich reddish brown. Its tail is often white-tipped, and it has black ears and legs. It's colour, however, varies depending on location.

what dangers do they face?

Threats

Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of unarmed followers led by a "master of foxhounds", who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback, many believe this tackles the over-population of foxes but the most recent scientific research on foxes indicates the national fox population has fallen by 41% since 1995, so ‘over-population’ is less probable than ever. Foxes are protected under a series of wildlife protection laws against poisoning, gassing, asphyxiating, maiming, stabbing, impaling, drowning, clubbing and most forms of snaring, with anyone carrying out such acts subject to 6 months imprisonment and/or £5,000 fine per animal.