Red Fox
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
(Canidae)
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S5
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
none
BLM:
none
General Description
Appearance of small dog. Long, bushy tail, pointed ears, slender muzzle, slanted eyes. White tip on the tail. Rufous coloration, various coat colorations or color phases. Total length: 39 to 43 inches. Weight: 10 to 15 pounds.
Diagnostic Characteristics
There is no white tip on the tail of the coyote, swift fox, marten or fisher.
Economic Value
Harvested for pelt in some areas.
Migration
Non-migratory.
Habitat
Can survive in a wide range of habitats. Often associated with agricultural areas. Prefers mixture of forest and open country near water. Mostly nocturnal. Hunts by smell. Uses dens for shelter during severe weather and when pups are being reared. Usually uses dens made by other animals (FWP). Seldom found far from permanent water. Thrive in bushy successional area where small mammals are most abundant. Occupies diverse habitats. In forest situations uses edge. (Jones et al. 1983).
Food Habits
Opportunistic predator that sometimes eats carrion. Preys on small mammals, birds, eggs, game birds (FWP). Varies according to avail. in W. MT. During spring: microtus spp., birds, muskrats, rabbits, grnd squirrels, deer carrion (in decreasing order of importance). In winter microtus spp., birds, N. pocket gophers. Also uses vegetation.
Ecology
Burrow den-sites comprised of sub-dens (10-40 holes). Some dens in open and some in brush.
Reproductive Characteristics
Mates during winter; 51- to 53-day gestation; litter size averages four to eight (FWP). In W. Montana breed from 8 Feb-8 Mar, mostly in Feb. Give birth late Mar-Apr. Approx. 4 young/litter. May exhibit communal denning.
Citations & Sources
- Foresman, K.R. 2001. The wild mammals of Montana. Special Publication No. 12. American Society of Mammalogists
- Frisina, M and Alt, K. 1992. Identification of Montana's Furbearing Animals. Montana Outdoors. May/Jun 1992
- NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. 2002. Version 1.6 . Arlington, Virginia, USA: NatureServe. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: March 20, 2003 ).
