May 16, 2014 at 4:18 p.m.
Red fox a capable hunter
Red fox a capable hunter
Cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares comprise a large part of their food intake in Wisconsin, but smaller animals such as mice offer another substantial food source.
The red fox will also dine on songbirds, squirrels, grouse, and even fish, frogs and worms as opportunity allows. The fox is not fussy. Insects, berries and roadside trash are also on the menu.
When red foxes hunt, they sneak up on their prey, keeping low to the ground, then suddenly pounce on it with their forefeet when the time is right. It's not just its speed that makes red foxes an effective predator. They also have excellent hearing. Foxes can hear voles under the snow and the squeak of a mouse at a distance of 50 yards.
Red foxes hunt primarily at night, and rest in cover when they are not pursuing prey. The bushy tail serves as a warm wrap.
Red foxes are a member of the canine family and typically have reddish fur, with blackish legs and a bushy, white-tipped tail, but other color phases include black, silver (white-tipped black fur), and a red/silver cross.
A fully-grown red fox generally weighs in at a mere 9-12 pounds, though its bushy coat makes it appear heavier. They are 3-3-1/2 feet in length from nose to tail.
Red fox tracks are about 1-1/2-2 inches in length and narrow compared to those of a small domestic dog. Thick fur can blur the tracks in the winter.
Breeding takes place in mid-January and about five or six pups, called kits, are born in mid-March. Foxes only use dens when they raise their young. These are often made from another animal's den and are frequently seen on hillsides. Both parents care for the young.
The kits are hunting by the time they're three months old and are on their own at seven to eight months of age.
Red foxes mark a home range, generally a few hundred acres, though occasionally much larger, that they defend against intruders.
Red foxes are quite adaptable and do well in close proximity to people. Consequently, they can be found almost anywhere, from deep forests to urban and suburban neighborhoods.
References: Wisconsin DNR; National Geographic (www.nationalgeographic.com).
Craig Turk may be reached at [email protected].
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