| Red foxes are similar to dogs, but smaller than | | | | types. When food is abundant, a red fox will store |
| their cousins the coyote and the wolf. Male foxes | | | | extra food by putting it into a shallow hole and |
| weigh up to 15 pounds; females are a bit smaller. | | | | then covering it with dirt. The fox will not forget |
| Humans cannot identify a red fox by only its coat | | | | the location of the food because it will often go |
| color as it varies greatly. Their coats can be red, | | | | back to make sure that the food is still there. |
| silver, black, brown, or even mixed colors like | | | | Sometimes red foxes become aggressive if |
| brown and black. Many of the different colored | | | | another animal digs up their stored food.Hunting |
| foxes are sometimes born in the same litter, but | | | | prey uses all the red foxes abilities and senses; |
| they are still considered to be red foxes. The | | | | they use speed to catch the fastest prey while |
| easiest way to tell a red fox apart from other | | | | using their ambush style of hunting. Once the red |
| fox species is by looking at its white-tipped tail. | | | | fox spots its prey, it will stand still and watch it to |
| Another unique feature a red fox has is its black | | | | determine where it is going. After this point, the |
| stockings and the occasional black-tipped ears.A | | | | fox will approach its prey slowly and then pounce. |
| red fox's tail is thick; it is called a brush and it is | | | | Pouncing happens when the fox jumps several |
| used to cover the fox's face during the winter. | | | | feet into the air, after standing still, then landing on |
| Foxes are active animals; they are great jumpers | | | | the animal using its front feet. After it lands, it |
| and fast sprinters with incredible agility in their | | | | pins the animal down and goes for the kill; this |
| movements. While hunting, the red foxes' speed | | | | method of hunting is different from wolves and |
| and their strong jaws and powerful bite strength | | | | coyotes because they use their speed to chase |
| enable them to catch small animals. Their senses | | | | prey. Foxes act like felines while hunting; however, |
| assist them as well, they can survey sound by | | | | they truly are from the candid family.Red foxes |
| shifting their head. This helps them hear an animal | | | | breed during the wintertime or at the start of |
| walking through snow, which gives them a chance | | | | spring and they give birth within two months |
| to attack without being seen. Their long whiskers | | | | afterwards. Their young kits live in a den; it is |
| are used to detect prey movement after it is | | | | usually an old one used by other animals. Kits |
| captured.Red foxes live in many areas in North | | | | cannot see when they are born and they weigh |
| America and Alaska, while most arctic foxes' | | | | only a few ounces; litters usually contain four or |
| homes are south of the tundra. These foxes can | | | | five kits. Both parents take care of the kits; the |
| live in the same environment, however the most | | | | male does the hunting for the family and brings |
| dominant species is the red fox; it hunts arctic | | | | the food to the den. Sometimes weaker kits |
| foxes in these areas.Red foxes are omnivores | | | | starve if they are not given enough food. Kits |
| and they will eat whatever food source is | | | | stay in the den for a month and learn how to |
| available to them. They eat many types of small | | | | hunt prey a month after. During the fall, the |
| insects, vegetation, mammals and carrion. They | | | | family will go their separate ways. |
| prefer voles and other small animals to the larger | | | | |