The Red Fox
Wyoming, USA
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and the most widespread land carnivore in the world. Native across the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe, Asia), they have been introduced elsewhere and have the largest natural range of any land mammal besides humans. They thrive in diverse environments, including deciduous woodlands, rural farmland, arctic edges, and densely populated suburban or urban areas.
Despite their name, they are not always red. Coats range from yellow-red to deep reddish-brown with black lower legs, black ears, and a white-tipped tail. Common color variants include the cross fox (reddish-brown with a dark stripe down the back and shoulders) and the silver fox (nearly all-black with silver-tipped guard hairs).
Males are called dogs and average about 11 lbs (5 kg), while females are called vixens and average about 9 lbs (4 kg). The red fox has vertical, cat-like pupils for night vision, long whiskers, and semi-retractable claws. Foxes are opportunistic generalists that eat rodents, rabbits, birds, amphibians, insects, eggs, grass, and berries; Urban foxes also scavenge from garbage cans, compost heaps, and pet food left outdoors. Hunting alone rather than in packs, they possess extraordinary hearing and are able to detect a mouse squeak from up to 100 feet away. They often align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field when pouncing on prey.
Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
Photo Prints
Metal Prints
Canvas Prints
Acrylic Prints