Red Fox

Drawing of Fox

Image by Anna Weiner
used with permission

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The red fox is one of the most adaptable and widespread mammals in North America. It resembles a small dog, with reddish-brown fur, large, pointed ears; a skinny muzzle; and a long bushy tail with a white tip (called a brush). Unlike the family pet, however, the red fox is a wild animal with an extraordinary ability to survive in a range of habitats.

Foxes live in burrows or dens located near wooded areas, around the edges of grassy fields and marshes, under stable sand dunes, and even in towns and cities.