Red Fox · 2020. 2. 19. · Red Fox Vulpesvulpes Description Red foxes are the largest of the foxes...
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Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Description Red foxes are the largest of the foxes found at Cedar Creek, but are smaller than coyotes or wolves. Red coloration is the most common, but red foxes can also be grey, black, or white. Foxes have elongated bodies, short legs, and fluffy, white-tipped tails which are long enough to droop on the ground. Their tail can makes up nearly one-third of their total body length! They often have black “boots” on their feet, which helps distinguish them from other canids. Size (on average) Head and body: 20-25 inch long, plus a 15 inch tail Height: 15 inches tall at the shoulder Weight: Between 8 and 15 lb Habitat Preference Red foxes live in a wide variety of habitats, including anything from dense forests to open fields. Diet Primarily carnivorous. A large part of their diet is comprised of crickets, grasshoppers and other insects. They also hunt for birds and small mammals including squirrels and mice. However, like other canids red foxes are also opportunists that have been documented eating berries, nuts, and seeds. Common behaviors and things to look for in camera images They look like they’re wearing black boots and have black tips on their ears. Their tails are incredibly long and bushy. Phenology Red foxes generally mate in February. About 7 weeks later, females give birth to 5-10 kits. The kits are fully independent by 7 months. Home Range Size 0.5 - 5 square miles, with lots of overlap in space (but not time) between individuals. Status at Cedar Creek Fairly common. Tracks and sign, as well as photos, are seen across the property. They are most commonly spotted in the north half of the property, in the coniferous forests, but it is not unusual to see them crossing open fields or moving through the deciduous forests. They even regularly leave tracks in the parking lot of our main building area! Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a University of Minnesota biological field station. Photos are from the Cedar Creek field cameras. FUN FACTS ▪ Red foxes are members of the canid family, which also includes wolves, coyotes, jackals and dogs. ▪ Foxes have dens that can be up to 40 feet deep. However, they are usually only 2-5 ft deep. ▪ Fox will hide or bury uneaten food to save for later. ▪ Foxes can run up to 30 mph. ▪ Foxes can leap up to 15 feet, which is longer than a kangaroo. ▪ A fox uses its tail as cover in cold temperatures and also as a signal flag to communicate with other foxes. References: Eyes on the Wild Field Guide https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/redfox.html, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/r/red-fox/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_vulpes/ https://emammal.si.edu/north-carolinas-candid-critters/blog/confusing- canids-differentiating-red-foxes-grey-foxes-and Track illustration by Julie Martinez. Reprinted with permission from Animal Tracks: Midwest Edition by Jonathan Poppele. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, MN. CEDARCREEK Eyes on the Wild
Transcript of Red Fox · 2020. 2. 19. · Red Fox Vulpesvulpes Description Red foxes are the largest of the foxes...
Red FoxVulpes vulpesDescriptionRed foxes are the largest of the foxes found at CedarCreek, but are smaller than coyotes or wolves. Redcoloration is the most common, but red foxes can alsobe grey, black, or white. Foxes have elongated bodies,short legs, and fluffy, white-tipped tails which are longenough to droop on the ground. Their tail can makes upnearly one-third of their total body length! They oftenhave black “boots” on their feet, which helps distinguishthem from other canids.
Size (on average)Head and body: 20-25 inch long, plus a 15 inch tailHeight: 15 inches tall at the shoulderWeight: Between 8 and 15 lb
Habitat PreferenceRed foxes live in a wide variety of habitats, includinganything from dense forests to open fields.
DietPrimarily carnivorous. A large part of their diet iscomprised of crickets, grasshoppers and other insects.They also hunt for birds and small mammals includingsquirrels and mice. However, like other canids red foxesare also opportunists that have been documented eatingberries, nuts, and seeds.
Common behaviors and things to lookfor in camera imagesThey look like they’re wearing black boots and haveblack tips on their ears. Their tails are incredibly longand bushy.
PhenologyRed foxes generally mate in February. About 7 weekslater, females give birth to 5-10 kits. The kits are fullyindependent by 7 months.
Home Range Size0.5 - 5 square miles, with lots of overlap in space (butnot time) between individuals.
Status at Cedar CreekFairly common. Tracks and sign, as well as photos, areseen across the property. They are most commonlyspotted in the north half of the property, in the coniferousforests, but it is not unusual to see them crossing openfields or moving through the deciduous forests. Theyeven regularly leave tracks in the parking lot of our mainbuilding area!
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a University of Minnesota biologicalfield station. Photos are from the Cedar Creek field cameras.
FUN FACTS▪ Red foxes are members of the canid family,
which also includes wolves, coyotes, jackalsand dogs.
▪ Foxes have dens that can be up to 40 feetdeep. However, they are usually only 2-5 ftdeep.
▪ Fox will hide or bury uneaten food to savefor later.
▪ Foxes can run up to 30 mph.
▪ Foxes can leap up to 15 feet, which is longerthan a kangaroo.
▪ A fox uses its tail as cover in coldtemperatures and also as a signal flag tocommunicate with other foxes.
References: Eyes on the Wild Field Guidehttps://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/redfox.html,https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/r/red-fox/https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_vulpes/https://emammal.si.edu/north-carolinas-candid-critters/blog/confusing-canids-differentiating-red-foxes-grey-foxes-and
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