Wild Fox Information

The Arctic fox is small (about the same weight as a cat) with short legs and short rounded furry ears. The bushy tail is about 30 cm. long. Its bushy fur coat makes it look much larger than it really is. Near the end of summer the grayish brown coat of the Arctic fox begins to grow thicker. The color of the fur turns gray and then white. The oily fur sheds water and helps to keep the fox dry.The Arctic fox is well adapted to live in the cold Arctic. In winter its thick, bushy coat turns white. This makes it very hard to see the fox. The prey is not able to spot the Arctic fox until it is too late.Because of its thick coat, it is able to survive in freezing cold temperatures. Thick hair on the pads of their feet protect their feet from freezing and help them to walk on the ice. The Arctic fox can walk on ice without slipping. It uses ice floes to travel in search of food in the winter.It lives in a den or burrow dug into the side of a hill, cliff or riverbank. In winter it digs connecting tunnels in the snow so several families can live together. They often hunt in small groups during the winter.

Red foxes are known for their cleverness. Their scientific name is "Vulpes Vulpes" which means "fox fox." Red foxes hunt by themselves, and live usually around the edge of forests. A fully grown red fox rarely weighs over fifteen pounds. Most of their hunting is done at night, and they can travel over five miles in one night just hunting. Red foxes are not picky, and will eat whatever they can find or catch, whether it is dead or alive. However, if it has a choice, one of its favorite foods are mice. They're good at catching mice, very good, because they can hear one squeal almost 150 yards away. They pounce on small prey, like the aforementioned mice, like a cat.Red foxes are often hunted for their fur. But it seems that all that does is teach them more tricks to get away. Red foxes grow an extra-large fur coat during the winter to keep them warm. The "red" fox's fur is not really red at all. Their fur is usually brown, yellowish-red or silverish.

A mottled or grizzled greyish fox, the colour being derived from individual hairs banded with white, grey and black.There is a dark stripe down the back and a small black mane. Parts of the neck, flanks, and legs are rufous, the face and underbelly being white or buff. Head-and-body length: 53-81 cm. Tail length: 27-44 cm Shoulder height unknown. Weight: 3-7 kg, females slightly lighter than males.

The Swift Fox is North America's version of the long eared fox. This fox also called "Prarie Fox" roams the central plains and badlands of the United States. At one time, though, he inhabited all of the grasslands of the US and Canada.The Swift Fox grows to about 49 cenimeters (20 in.) with a tail of about 30 cm (12 in.). This fox eats mostly rabbits, rodents, birds, and insects. This small fox is both intelligent and voracious, a combination that often proves deadly to the creatures it stalks. These foxes form perminant mating pairs and often hunt together for their family.

The smallest of the foxes, the Fennec makes its home in the northern reaches of Africa and throughout the Near East. The Fennec Fox can be easily identified by ite large pointed ears and destinctive markings. The mixture of cream and red fur streak its muzzle in a distinctive facial stripe.F. zerda grows to about 35 cenimeters (14 inches) with a plumeing tail extending again the length of its body. The large ears can grow to a length half the size of its body giving it an almost rabbit-like appearance . Foxes, like all canidae, are unable to sweat through their skin. This fox uses the surface area of its ears as a radiator to cool its blood of the scorching heat of the desert sun.The Fennec is primarily noctournal and will only leave its sand burrows in the cool desert night to hunt scorpions, bugs and other mammals. The burrows can be over 10 meters deep (33 feet) and provide excellent protection from the heat and predators that would make a quick meal out of a small animal such as our desert friend.