11/16/2010 Overview Receiving Calls Related to the Red Fox • Classification • Winning the caller’s confidence • Distribution Saving Lives with a Little Natural • General Description • Scanning the landscape History • Feeding Habits – Diet and hunting skills … in this case, the Red Fox • Placing the caller’s concerns in perspective • Behavior • Life Cycle – Birth and development Valerie Ackerman • Mortality Virginia State Licensed Rehabilitator President, Wilderness Wildlife Rehabilitation Classification Distribution • Kingdom: Animalia (animals) • One of the largest ranges of any land animal. It • Phylum: Chordata (i.e. has a backbone) exists in: • Class: Mammalia (mammals) – Almost all of N. America north of Mexico • Order: Carnivora (possesses true canine teeth) – Common throughout Europe and parts of North Photo: Rob Lee Africa • Family: Canidae (dogs) They are known to live in a wide range of – Most of Asia environments including forest, marshes, • Genus: Vulpes (the Latin word for “fox”) – In addition, it has been desert shrubland, prairies, and the arctic • Species: vulpes introduced to several tundra, not to mention suburban and urban Vulpes vulpes (red fox) Pacific Islands, and to the environments. continent of Australia in 1845 1
11/16/2010 Flicker.com Colors: Most common are reddish tone to Thesilvercoyote.net General Description: Weight ranges from 8 to dark chestnut with a white chin, white upper 17 pounds depending on the region. In higher lip, white underside, black ears, black feet and Eyes: Gold to yellow and have distinctive latitudes such as Alaska and Canada they tend legs, and black nose. Other various color vertical/slit pupils, similar to those of to be larger. Very large red fox can weigh up to phases including silver fox and cross fox domestic cats 31 pounds. appear in litters of normal reds. Tail: Red fox has a bushy tail that accounts for one- third of his body length. It is used for insulation while Feet: The red fox’s feet are canine though sleeping, a tool for communication, balance for somewhat small. Forepaws have five toes and Ear: Red foxes have triangular shaped ears that hind paws have four. Their agility is enhanced by movement, and has a white tip that distinguishes it move continually to improve reception their semi-retractable claws. from other canids. Renard www.daf.gov.au Kevin Fleming Diet: Foxes are true omnivores. Their vegetarian side may In urban areas, red foxes will also scavenge on Red fox employs 42 teeth within in elongated muzzle. include grasses, grains, fungi, berries and fruit. On the Canines which hold prey, incisors for cutting and human refuse and will eat from pet food carnivorous side, diet may consist of insects (especially shearing meat, and molars for grinding bones and bowls left outside. An opportunist, red fox diet grasshoppers), rodents (mice, voles), rabbits, birds, eggs, vegetable matter. amphibians and small reptiles, fish, earthworms, carrion, and tends to vary directly to what’s available. more ! 2
11/16/2010 www.hiren.info Steve Hinch Red fox will also stalk prey such as rabbits and squirrels, keeping hidden until close enough to catch them in a short Hunting: Red foxes are solitary hunters. Their acute sense of dash. However, its strong legs allow it to reach speeds up to hearing allows them to locate small mammals in thick grass, Behavior: Although the red fox is primarily described as 30 mph. under growth or deep snow, within a few inches. They will crepuscular, it can also be active during the day. This behavior then launch themselves at a 45 degree angle into the air to can be observed while raising their kits and during the cold pounce on their prey . winter months. Wildlifering.com Furbearergallery.com Several dens are utilized within these territories. Dens may be Red fox generally claims its own territory, pairing up only in claimed from animals such as woodchucks. Larger dens are winter and foraging alone in the summer. Red fox may Jo and Jeff used for winter months and for rearing young. Smaller dens maintain territories as large as 4-5 square miles, but sightings Dens may be located in various areas, including fields, edge of are used for emergencies and to store excess food. Those of red fox sustaining a family on as little as an acre in urban forests, deserts, under porches, or old barns, but always dens are sometimes connected. In addition to an entrance, areas occur as well. located near a water source. their dens will always have an exit. Joel Sartore Coloradolifestyle.com Socially the fox communicates with body language and a Foxes mark their territory by recognition posts that are special variety of vocalizations. Noises may vary from a distinctive smells that come from a scent gland located just above the Max Waugh three-yip “where are you” call, to a shriek that sounds like a fox’s tail. Red fox cannot spray like a skunk and does not use Red foxes primarily form monogamous pairs each winter. Both human scream. They also communicate with scent, marking this secretion as a defense. parents will cooperate to raise a litter of kits each year. food and territorial boundary lines with urine and feces. 3
11/16/2010 David Element Life cycle: Birth and development:Due to its broad Hoffman distribution, red fox breeding period varies between Generally, gestation period varies between 49 to 54 days. After At birth, fox pups weigh 3-4 ounces (85 to 110 grams). Litters December and March, depending on the location. Females the kits are born, the mother will stay with them to nurse and average four to nine young, five being the norm. They are have an annual estrous period of between one and six days. to keep them warm until their eyes open ~ about 10 days. dark grayish/brown in color. Kits develop rapidly, tripling their Although a female may mate with several males, she will During this period, the male will bring food to her and leave it weight in ten days. eventually settle with only one. at the front of the den. Wildmarva.com By the fifth week, they start to explore the outside of the den. Kit’s bluish grey eyes open by the second week and the mother is able to At this time, they are a sandy grey-brown color that At six and seven weeks, they are much bolder and start leave them for brief periods of time. By the third week, they are able to camouflages them well in their new surroundings. A hierarchy pouncing on leaves and sticks, and roughhousing with their move around and start fighting among themselves to establish an order of amongst the kits has been established and they are now dominance. By the fourth week, weaning begins and kits are fed partially siblings. They frequently stalk and chase one another, and enjoying the most carefree times of their lives. digested food, regurgitated by their parents. Mother still nurses her some rivalry is still present. The play is needed to learn young, but starts to discourage them from suckling. hunting and fighting techniques needed later in life. David White David White Forsythe By the second month, kits are fully weaned, and by the third Summer arrives, their grey coat has turned reddish and their In addition to play, the kits accompany their parents on month, they are able to catch small prey such as insects. eyes, the golden color of adults. hunting trips to sharpen their skills. 4
Recommend
More recommend
