My husband David and I feel fortunate to share our 2 ½ acre piece of land we live on in Ipswich, MA with many other species. Most of them I only know a little about other than I can recognize them by sight and sound. Over the past few years I have tried to rectify my ignorance about these animal and insect neighbors by learning more about them. To name a few, I’ve studied and written about wild turkeys, squirrels, skunks, fireflies, hummingbirds, beavers, bats and monarch butterflies. Today’s blog is about the red fox that I often see prancing gracefully through our horse paddocks or lazing in the sun with her kits. The other fox species in Ipswich is the highly camouflaged gray fox that lives in the dunes at Crane Beach, the gorgeous five mile long, sand beach in Ipswich. On one rare occasion, while walking near the dunes with David and our dogs, I was fortunate to see a one sitting absolutely still just 10 feet away from us. The colors of her fur blended completely with the sand and concealed her from sight. It was only the slightest movement in her alert eyes that allowed me to spot her. Much to my amazement, our dogs did not see her or pick up her scent. The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoeoargenteus), is distinctly different and not related to the red fox. Both are abundant throughout Massachusetts where I live. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora. They live throughout the continental United states from Alaska to Florida. True foxes are distinguished from members of the genus Canis, (Canines) by their smaller size, longer bushier tails and flatter skulls. Other true foxes are: Ruppell’s fox, corsac fox, Bengal fox, Arctic fox, Blanford’s fox, Cape fox and fennec fox. The red fox is a mammal of the family Canidae. Canidae currently includes 35 species of dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals and foxes. All members are part of the subfamily, Caninae. and tend to be slender, long legged, have long muzzles, bushy tails, erect pointed ears and well-developed canine and cheek teeth. Canines were probably the first animals to be domesticated by early humans some 30,000 years ago. Interesting facts about the red fox: The typical lifespan of the red fox is two to four years but they can live up to a decade. The red fox weighs on average 8 to 17 pounds. (The smallest of the true foxes is the fennec fox which lives in deserts and weighs only 2 to 4 pounds.) The tail of the red fox is over half its body length. In fact, the tail is 70% of its head and body length. The forelimbs of all fox species have five toes while the hind legs have four. The earliest known fossils of a Vulpes are about 7 million years old and were found in South Africa. It was estimated that this animal weighed between 2 and 3 ½ pounds. Like most canids, true foxes have muscular bodies, powerful jaws and sharp teeth for grasping prey. Vulpes species, including red fox, have vertically-slit pupils, which generally appear elliptical in strong light like those of cats, which provide them with significant advantages in extremely excellent sight. The red fox like some other of the Vulpes, has a pungent “foxy” odor that arises from a gland located on the dorsal (back) surface of the tail, not far from its base. There is not much sexual dimorphism, (physical difference in appearance between sexes of the same species), that is displayed between males and females although males are slightly larger. The red fox, along with the Ruppell’s fox and Tibetan sand fox, possesses a white tipped tail. Most true foxes including the red fox are nocturnal, but they can be active during morning and dusk and occasionally hunt and scavenge in daylight during the winter. Most are solitary or nomadic, living most of their lives on their own except for mating season. They have monogamous relationship with a partner and breed between Late December and late March. Females are called vixens and like most fox species dig out dens to provide a safe underground space for raising their young. The female will have two to four kits per litter. Born deaf and blind, kits, or cubs, require their mother’s milk and complete supervision for the first four to five weeks. They are progressively weaned after a month. Once weaned, kits seek out various insects. The mother supplements this diet with a variety of small mammals and birds. Sometime in July, the kits are able to hunt on their own and soon move away from their mother. Foxes have supersonic hearing which allows them to detect prey and avoid becoming prey. They can hear a mouse squeak from 100 yards away. They can also run up to 31 miles per hour and jump over 6 ft high obstacles. They are good swimmers. Foxes are omnivorous, (feed on food of both animal and plant origin), and are prone to scavenging. They eat a variety of small mammals including mice, voles, rabbits, opossums, racoons and squirrels. They also eat insects, grasses, and some flowers. They eat just over two pounds a day and often cache (store) their food for another day. Foxes are eaten by bears and wolves. Note: Coyote do not eat fox but kill them to prevent resource scarcity. However, kits and juvenile foxes are prey to weasels, large snakes, and large birds of prey such as hawks and eagles. In a human populated area, dogs will often kill kits, juveniles and sometimes adult foxes. When afraid, red foxes grin as a sign of submission. They also arch their back and bring themselves lower to the ground while laying their ears back. How to help the red fox: Like all species on this planet, red fox need habitats to live, find food and raise their kits. Leave as much of your property wild or forested. Make habitat piles of tree branches and garden debris wherever you can on your property. If you see a den do not let your dog roam free. Final Thought: Although I have provided you with many fascinating facts about the red fox, all the information I have given you does not open your eyes, heart, understanding and appreciation of this unique being as does one singular encounter. The intense and brilliant orange fur color contrasted with white and black fur artistically placed, defies comprehension. The grace of movement and the intelligence of its intense gaze adds to the red fox’s spellbinding mystique. One chance encounter can take your breath away, change your life forever and open your eyes and heart to the beauty and mystery of our planet and priceless gifts it holds for us all.
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AuthorConsultant, designer and educator transforming commercial and residential landscapes sustainably Archives
March 2023
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