The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is not native to Vermont, it was introduced by European colonists. The native fox species, the gray fox, proved too elusive, so early European settlers brought the red fox to use for fox hunting. Red foxes, however, are native to other parts of North America. In comparison, the red fox is slightly larger than the gray fox and it occupies a wider range of habitats. Hunted and trapped for its coat, it’s a popular furbearer.
Vermont Wildlife Fact Sheet
Physical Description In Vermont, it commonly about ten months. The red fox breeds late January through breeds once a year. The red fox is the size of a February. The males will small dog and belongs to the exhibit signs of aggression Food Items same family, the canids. An adult during the breeding season, red fox may weigh between eight fighting other males for The red fox is an and fifteen pounds and is establishment of territories omnivore, feeding on small approximately 39 to 43 inches in and vying for the female's mammals, birds, woodchucks, length. It has long pointed black attention. Females often mate insects, eggs, carrion (dead tipped ears, black cheek patches, with more than one male but animals) and also fruits and black "leg stockings" and a long, will form a partnership with berries. It can be a nuisance bushy, white tipped tail. only one. In preparation of because it will occasionally prey There are several color the birth, the female remains on domestic cats, poultry, lambs, phases of the red fox, ranging in or near the den. The male young pigs and young goats. from black to yellow. Commonly red fox assists the female by The red fox primarily seen as a deep reddish brown, the providing her with food. feeds on rodents. It can often be coat of the red fox also can be After a gestation period seen standing still in a field, black while in its black phase, of 49 to 53 days, the litter is listening for any movement. silver during its silver phase, and born, ranging in size from one When it detects food, it will leap red brown with a black stripe to 13 pups with five as the high in the air and pounce on top down its back and across its average. At birth, the pups of the rodent. It also caches shoulders during the cross phase. weigh only about 100 grams, surplus food that it can relocate It may also be grayish color and are blind and completely with its excellent memory. The can often mistaken for the gray dependent on their mother for red fox has an excellent memory fox. However, the black booties survival. Nine to 14 days after for locating its stored food on all four of the red fox's legs birth, their eyes begin to open, provisions. and its white tipped tail are and after five weeks, they excellent field markings that explore outside of the den. By distinguish it from the gray fox. the time they are ten-weeks old, they are weaned off their Life Cycle mother's milk and are capable Habits & Habitat of obtaining food for The breeding season of themselves. The mother and The red fox utilizes a wide the red fox varies with latitude pups stay together until the variety of habitats. It prefers a within its geographic range. young reach sexual maturity at mixture of forest and open areas Red Fox Fact Sheet 1 and heavily uses the transition areas (called edge) between them. Resource Utilization It also requires a suitable den site, which may be one it has dug or The red fox is an an existing burrow of another important furbearer its range of animal, possibly a woodchuck’s coat colors delivers varying prices that can be reused. Dens can be per pelt. With its long-haired used year after year and often are pelt, its popularity in the fur connected to resting and feeding industry has increased and so too grounds by a system of pathways. has its value. Additionally, the The red fox is crepuscular, fox can also regulate small meaning it is most active at dusk mammal populations that may and dawn, but will forage during cause damage if their numbers the daytime as well. The male grew to be too large. and female remain together during the year to help raise the Management Efforts young. Unlike the wolf, the red fox does not form packs. The red fox population is
monitored closely to regulate Abundance hunting and trapping limits. It is protected from over hunting with The red fox is fairly the season only lasting two common throughout its range and months, from the end of October is abundant in its preferred habitat through the end of December. in Vermont. Its population can This time of year is chosen to experience dramatic declines in protect against mothers or number when hit by diseases, newborns being harvested. such as rabies, but has can recover quickly. Illustration: Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language, History 1911, G & C Miriam Co. Springfield, MA.: Public Domain Images Humans have long labeled the red fox as a pest species. In addition to their natural diet of small mammals and birds, they will occasionally prey upon domestic species, such as poultry. Bounties were once placed on the red fox, however, this proved to be unsuccessful in managing fox numbers. Today, many farmers, have come to recognize the valuable role this species plays in controlling rodent populations that may other wise grow to a damaging size.
Red Fox Fact Sheet 2