Red Fox   Vulpes vulpes

The red fox is a species found all over the world.  The same species is found in Europe, North Africa, Asia, the Arctic Circle, Central and North America, and the United Kingdom, and are best known for their "bushy" tails.  The red fox's coat is usually rust to red/orange color with black points (tips of the ears and legs), but may also range to a silver color. 

Although the red fox is a member of the canines, or dog family, its eyes are much more similar to a cat's with an oval shaped pupil rather than round like many other animals.  This is allows more light to enter, aiding its twilight hunting skills. 

The red fox has teeth that are characteristic of all canines, and suited for life as a carnivore.  To compensate for the wear and tear of gnawing and chewing, new layers of tooth material are constantly produced.  Interestingly, a fox's age, after death, can be determined by examining a cross section of a tooth, much as a tree's growth rings can be examined for the same purpose.

The red fox's sense of hearing and smell are extremely acute, and small prey can be pinpointed from up to 50 feet away.  The red fox's typical hunting strategy is the "pounce" method, which involves a quick leap, landing on top of its prey.  This is a very effective method for trapping rodents, as it hinders their primary escape method: jumping up and away from a predator.

Even during the coldest weather, the red fox will rarely take refuge in a den.  Instead, it will curl up in a ball, using its long tail as a blanket, covering its nose and footpads.  The only known time a red fox will "den up", is during a mother's first few weeks with her kits.  Here, she will keep her kits warm and safe, while her mate does the hunting for the family.

Red foxes, like dogs, will often bury food they cannot eat right away.  They will use their incredible sense of smell to seek it out, and then mark the holes with urine.  Urine is also used to mark the boundaries of their home range, or to cover another fox’s scent mark.  Humans can also detect the urine marking, although we may not recognize it as a fox’s scent, their markings smell similar to a skunk’s musk.