RED FOX
Vulpes vulpes

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Vulpes
Species: Vulpes vulpes

Habitat: A mixture of forest and open fields, with the transition zone or "edge" between these habitats particularly favored. Suburban and urban areas are commonly inhabited by red foxes.

Nutrition: Mice, voles, woodchucks, rabbits, chipmunks, fruits, insects, birds and eggs, carrion, garbage, amphibians, and reptiles.

Reproduction:  Red foxes are generally monogamous.  Foxes breed from January through March and, after an average gestation period of 51 to 53 days, give birth to a litter averaging four or five pups. The red fox may dig its own burrow but usually improves an abandoned woodchuck burrow. Most foxes have more than one den and will readily move their young if disturbed. The pups stay in the den until about four to five weeks of age, after which they emerge and begin to play outside the den entrance. Both adults care for the young by bringing food and guarding the den site.

Adaptions to habitat: Red fox are sighted frequently because they prefer open habitats and are not strictly nocturnal; it is not unusual to see a red fox during the daytime. The red fox may partially bury excess food covering it with soil, grass, leaves, or snow and mark it with urine.

Fox, D. 2003. "Vulpes vulpes" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 25, 2005 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Vulpes_vulpes.html.