Red Fox

The adult red fox measures between 70-100 cm in length with the tail measuring around 35 cm. Adult red foxes usually weigh between 5-10 kg.

Red foxes inhabit diverse habitats, such as: forests, deserts and parks. They are found in all of Canada’s provinces and territories, making them one of the most widespread mammals in the country. 

Red foxes are omnivores and solitary hunters, eating both plants and animals. They primarily feast on small mammals, including mice, lemmings and rabbits, but red foxes also enjoy vegetables and berries.

These small animals possess a variety of behaviours, ranging from playfulness, aggression and reclusion. Foxes are intelligent creatures and enjoy interacting with each other and are often observed playing. Parent foxes bring prey for their cubs to play with to teach vital hunting skills. While red foxes are social with each other, they can be quite shy in the presence of humans and will typically dart off when observed.

Red foxes breed in the winter and remain with their cubs until the next fall. It is common for only one vixen to breed in their social groupings, however, there are instances where up to three vixen breed at a time. The average litter size for the red fox is 4-5, but can reach up to 10 in rare instances. Red foxes are known to be nurturing parents.

Red foxes have a relatively short life expectancy of 3-5 years when living in the wild. This is due to threats such as  hunting and trapping, however, in a zoological environment red foxes are able to live much longer, up to 15 years.

Red foxes are hunted for sport, where their fur is used to produce garments. There has been government intervention in fur farming practices which has reduced some of the threat.