The Alaskan Red Fox

By: Michael Russell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:26:59
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Red foxes are similar to dogs, but smaller than their cousins the coyote and the wolf. Male foxes weigh up to 15 pounds; females are a bit smaller. Humans cannot identify a red fox by only its coat color as it varies greatly. Their coats can be red, silver, black, brown, or even mixed colors like brown and black. Many of the different colored foxes are sometimes born in the same litter, but they are still considered to be red foxes. The easiest way to tell a red fox apart from other fox species is by looking at its white-tipped tail. Another unique feature a red fox has is its black stockings and the occasional black-tipped ears.

A red fox's tail is thick; it is called a brush and it is used to cover the fox's face during the winter. Foxes are active animals; they are great jumpers and fast sprinters with incredible agility in their movements. While hunting, the red foxes' speed and their strong jaws and powerful bite strength enable them to catch small animals. Their senses assist them as well, they can survey sound by shifting their head. This helps them hear an animal walking through snow, which gives them a chance to attack without being seen. Their long whiskers are used to detect prey movement after it is captured.

Red foxes live in many areas in North America and Alaska, while most arctic foxes' homes are south of the tundra. These foxes can live in the same environment, however the most dominant species is the red fox; it hunts arctic foxes in these areas.

Red foxes are omnivores and they will eat whatever food source is available to them. They eat many types of small insects, vegetation, mammals and carrion. They prefer voles and other small animals to the larger types. When food is abundant, a red fox will store extra food by putting it into a shallow hole and then covering it with dirt. The fox will not forget the location of the food because it will often go back to make sure that the food is still there. Sometimes red foxes become aggressive if another animal digs up their stored food.

Hunting prey uses all the red foxes abilities and senses; they use speed to catch the fastest prey while using their ambush style of hunting. Once the red fox spots its prey, it will stand still and watch it to determine where it is going. After this point, the fox will approach its prey slowly and then pounce. Pouncing happens when the fox jumps several feet into the air, after standing still, then landing on the animal using its front feet. After it lands, it pins the animal down and goes for the kill; this method of hunting is different from wolves and coyotes because they use their speed to chase prey. Foxes act like felines while hunting; however, they truly are from the candid family.

Red foxes breed during the wintertime or at the start of spring and they give birth within two months afterwards. Their young kits live in a den; it is usually an old one used by other animals. Kits cannot see when they are born and they weigh only a few ounces; litters usually contain four or five kits. Both parents take care of the kits; the male does the hunting for the family and brings the food to the den. Sometimes weaker kits starve if they are not given enough food. Kits stay in the den for a month and learn how to hunt prey a month after. During the fall, the family will go their separate ways.

Article source: Expert Articles