Largest of the true foxes, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has the widest range of any territorial carnivore. It is found all over North America, in Central America, Europe, northern Asia including Japan and even in parts of Australia. Even though it is native to most of the countries it’s found in, the red fox is a species that was introduced to Australia around 1850 for recreational fox hunting.

The red fox is a species of animal that has been hunted over the years by man for its fur and as a sport. Even today, the red fox is hunted in England for sport and many condemn it as inhumane.

But, even though it has been hunted, snared, trapped and shot down for ages, its numbers have remained at a stable rate without pushing the animal, anywhere near the `threatened’ or near extinction category.

One of the main reasons for this is attributed to the fox’s ability to survive in any habitat; it is at home in the deepest wilderness or even in the backyards of houses in the region it lives. However, the red fox prefers to roam in wooded areas and brushland.

This carnivorous mammal is a member of the dog family, but has many cat-like habits. In fact, it is often referred to as the cat-like canine by many.

Averaging the size of a large cat, the red fox has a head to body length of 18 to 33.76 inches (46-86 cm) with a tail ranging from 12 to 21.75 inches (30.5 to 55.5 cm) in length. Its weight is about (7.15 lbs (3-7 kg) and height 38-41 cm (15-16 in).

Its fur, for which it has been hunted for over thousands of years, is naturally reddish in colour, with the rusty red tone varying from dark chestnut to golden red, depending on the area its living in. Even though the fur of this particular species of fox is generally red, a naturally occurring grey morph is known to exist. This fox is referred to as the silver fox.

The average red fox has a reddish coat with a white underside, a very bushy tail with a white tip, black ear tips and legs covered in black fur.

The fur coat of the North American red fox is believed to be softer and silkier than that of the European red fox. Its eyes are gold to yellow in colour with distinctive vertical slit pupils like domestic cats. As it is a nocturnal (bynight) creature active during midnight and dawn, its night vision is said to be acute.

When any light shines into the eyes at night, they appear to be green, just like in your pet cats. Despite the fact that the red fox has acute night vision, some researchers are of the view that the animal has poor eyesight in general and may be even be near sighted. However, its hearing is said to be excellent. Its sensitive hearing enables it to locate prey easily.

It is said that the red fox can pick up the foraging sound of its prey; a mouse rustling in the grass or an earthworm moving on the surface of the soil.

And what do you think the creature has on its menu? Mostly invertebrates - crayfish, insects, earthworms rodents, rabbits and small birds. It also includes a bit of plant material, especially blackberries.

It usually hunts alone and is considered to be a solitary animal in general.

The red fox is known to be possessive of the food it hunts and will not share it with others.

As it’s known to have a proportionately small stomache, and is able to eat only half as much as its body weight, the red fox is famous for maintaining food caches; it stores food in shallow holes about 5-10 cm deep.

When hunting prey, it has been spotted stalking its prey like cats do. It also jumps high in the air to pounce on its prey and is in the habit of playing with its catch before killing it. Sometimes it catches mice even when its not hungry, just to play with them.

The red fox uses many small dens to rest, store food and use in emergencies, with a larger den to live in, in the winter. These dens which may be even badger’s dens, are generally connected by a series of tunnels.

But, as the red fox basically uses these dens to rest sometimes they could be enlarged wood chucks, rock piles, and hollow logs and even be made in a stream bank. Generally in winter many adult foxes could be seen sleeping in the outdoors all curled up, with their bushy tails wrapped around them like mufflers, and covered in snow.

The breeding season of the red fox is from December to February. The vixen (female) gives birth to one litter comprising four to five cubs once a year.

The cubs are born without fur, blind and helpless. The mother stays with the cubs, nursing them inside the den, for the first couple of weeks.

Normally the vixen is helped in rearing the cubs either by a sister or a female cub from an earlier litter. The cubs eyes and ears open after two weeks. The cubs are very boisterous and curious and venture out of the den by the time they are about a month old.

Between six months to an year, they disperse from their place of birth and are totally independent. They attend maturity by about 10 months and are ready to reproduce, continuing the cycle of life.

Facts and pix: Internet

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Fast facts

* The red fox belongs to the canid (KAY-nid) family. About 35 species of foxes, wolves, jackals and other wild dogs belong to this group of animals.

Three sub-species of red foxes have been found in India.

* Traditionally the red fox has been considered a pest by most farmers in the regions it lives as it attacks poultry.

* Some of the other kinds of foxes are, the grey fox, Tibetan fox, Corsac fox, fennec fox, bat-eared fox and the Arctic fox.

* The red fox is territorial. Each fox claims a territory which could be as large as 50 km or just less than 12 km.

* The foxe’s tracks are similar to that of a dog, but smaller. The fore print is about 55 m (2 inches) in size and the hind print is even smaller.

* It generally has dog-like features. The cubs have very short noses at birth and strongly resemble pups.

* The vixen does not permit the male fox to enter the den just prior to the birth of its litter of cubs. Its permitted to visit the cubs after they are born and also bring food.

* The red foxe’s hearing is believed to be so sensitive that it is able to hear the sound of a watch ticking 40 yards away from it.

* Foxes have whiskers on both their legs as well as their faces. These help them to find their way.